I do a lot. Too much actually. My plate has always got more on it than I can cope with. My close friends are always telling me: “Michelle, you do too much!” I even proudly tell people that I like to burn the candle on both ends. My days are full and the to-do list never ends.
Anyone who is a type A personality will identify with me. But then again, any mother will identify with me too. There just never seems to be time to slow down and rest. Even holidays are used to spring clean and catch up. There is always stuff to do.
I like being busy though.
It has taken me a while to realise it, but I love being busy. I love the work I do, the people I see, the things I am busy with. However, just like sugar: just because I like it, does not mean it is good for me in the long term. I am always tired. Always pushing the limits of my strength and endurance to do more. Something has to give eventually.
Isaiah 30:15 “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”
“Rest,” the Lord said. “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” I said.
“Why not, just stop pushing,” the Lord said to me. Pushing? Yes, I push to make things happen. I push myself, push my family, push the people around me, push time, push in traffic, push through everything. I push.
“You don’t have to push, I know where you are and what you are capable of. All I have for you, will come about, you don’t have to push to make it happen Michelle.”
Why do we push? Fear causes us to push. Fear causes me not to rest.
| I fear disaster.
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God is my protection, my shield, my fortress.
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| I fear that things will go wrong or I won’t be where I am supposed to be in life.
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God has planned every detail of my life, they are plans for my good. He has even planned this season of my life.
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| I fear that what people will say and think of me if I slow down and rest. I am worried that I will disappoint people who are watching me.
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Anyone who knows me and loves me will be aware of who and what I am. Anyone else’s opinion does not matter. Besides, I should be more concerned about God’s opinion of me.
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| I fear criticism if I am not pushing to achieve.
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Criticism is part of life, there will always be people who criticize, because people are broken and life is hard. My reputation is in God’s hands, my conscience is clear before Him.
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| I fear disappointing God.
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God is always focused on me in love. I cannot disappoint Him because He does not have unrealistic expectations of me. He knows that I am made of dust and that I need the help of the Holy Spirit to do life.
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This fear inside of me, drives me from rest.
Fear causes me to push, to do a little more. God’s love for me means that I don’t have to operate in fear. I can stop pushing.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18
Then look at this promise in Isaiah 41:9b-10:
“I said, “You are my servant”; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.””
Then in verse 13:
“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Thank you, Father, for that assurance. Help me to rest in your love, to remember that it is You who strengthens me when I rest. Help me to start addressing my fears, so that I can stop pushing and start to rest. Help me to remember that You know me and where I am. You know that I am made of dust and for that reason, You know that I need rest. Thank you that I can rest and that I don’t need to be afraid.
Why not add STOP PUSHING to the poster we started for the home?
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