“Prayers and Promises for Busy Women.”  I have written a great deal on this subject in my journal over the past few years.  Much has been written out of my own searching for a life that is in balance — one that is eternally productive without being exhausting and draining.  Perhaps one day I’ll put it all together in a book, but in the meantime I thought that I would share some of what I’ve written with all of you.

I hear from many of you who have found the pace of life accelerating and the joy and satisfaction of life diminishing.  We share the same dilemma.  Life is overwhelming and we know we need to make some changes, we just aren’t sure what those changes should be. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE what I do.  There are parts of my life where I know I am absolutely in the center of God’s will.  In those places there is such joy and satisfaction, that I’m realizing every area of my life could potentially produce the same results if they were all given over to Him.

Over the years I have found only one thing to be truly helpful in the process of getting control in my life.   I have to slow down enough to spend time with the Lord and His word.  Then I need to pray, asking God for his wisdom and direction for my life.  Every time I do, He is so faithful to answer.  But then the harder part begins — doing the things the Lord speaks to my heart in answer to my prayers.  The first step is pretty easy, the second?  Not so much!

I am excited at the prospect of giving the Lord the areas of my life He wants to change.  I really do trust that He wants to make my burden light and my yoke easy.  Did you know that God delights in helping us find joy and satisfaction in life?  Jesus said that He came that we might have life and that more abundantly!  His goal is that I have more time, energy and emotional strength to be a blessing to my family, friends and community.  Do you believe he wants the same for you?  If so, perhaps together we can discover a new way of living that will leave us filled up rather than constantly tired and drained!

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:6 NIV  Show me Your ways, O Lord, guide me in Your truth.  Ps. 25:4-5 NIV

DEVOTION:

A lot of our busy-ness comes as the result of wrong decisions we have made in our past.  Wrong decisions often lead to pain, chaos, confusion, over-commitment and exhaustion.  Where one wrong decision can quickly lead us far afield, returning sanity to our lives often takes a long, consistent series of right decisions.   Are you ready to make that long series of right decisions and trust God for His help in making your path straight?  I sure am!

How can I know what God wants me to do?  When life presents me with a myriad of choices to  make, how do I know which is the right path to follow?  It is easy to race off on a wrong path that looks easy and attractive.  Only God knows which path will lead to a rich and full life, and which will lead to heartache.  I’m learning to trust that He really does want the best for me.

PRAYER:  Lord, some of my busy-ness is a natural part of life, but I have to confess that a large part of it is because I’ve taken some wrong turns along the way.  I bring my situation to you and ask for your leading, your correction and your direction in the next steps I take on the path ahead. Please show me how to get back on your path in every area of my life — large and small.

Please show me the mistakes I’ve made along the way.  Make plain to me the way you want to me to go to overcome those mistakes.  Give me the courage to seek out your direction and then to consistently follow it day-by-day.  Help me to realize that a life that has become out of control over the span of years won’t be brought into control in just days or weeks or even months.  Help me to trust that you will be faithful to restore unto me the joy of my salvation and renew my joy in life!  AMEN.