Renewed Perspective

Good Morning!  I love how each day brings God's grace and mercies...and renewed perspective.  I've been given renewed perspective this morning.  All it takes for me to get renewed perspective is getting myself before God, in a posture of listening and learning.  He is always faithful to speak.  And we know His word is living and active!  Isn't it funny how even good intentions to serve can lead us off course?  We can put service or acts before fellowship with God.  The one thing God wants of us and created us for is fellowship and intimacy with Him.  This must come before anything else.  We must make sure we are entering in relationship and growing in our fellowship with Him, and through that fellowship God will lead and direct us in every aspect of life.  If we aren't in fellowship with Him, then all good intentions can go awry. 

I think yesterday, when I was struggling with discouragement and anxiety, what I really needed to do was get alone with Jesus.  I needed to spend time praying, being quiet before Him, reading His word.  Instead, my focus was on "acts of service" and battling through what I should or shouldn't do. 

In reading Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, this is part of what I read this morning in my quiet time.  This is taken word for word from the book:

The one thing that Jesus said was needed in Martha's life was fellowship with him - and that's true for us, too.  But the principle of "one thing" can also have smaller, practical implications that can  help when life feels overloaded.  Here are some ways to practice one-thing thinking when your wagon feels overloaded.
1.  Invite Jesus to rule and reign.  Each morning before you get out of bed, invite the Lord to come take the throne of your life, to be your "one thing".  Present your day to him and ask him for wisdom and guidance.
2.  Ask God to reveal the next step.  As you go through your day, keep asking the Lord, "what is the one thing I need to do next?"  Don't let the big picture overwhelm you.  Just take the next step as he reveals it - wash one dish, make one phone call, put on your jogging clothes.  Then take the next step - and the next.
3.  Have faith that what needs to get done will get done.  Since you have dedicated your day to the Lord, trust that he'll show you the one thing or many things that must be done.  Do what you can do in the time allotted.  Then trust that what wasn't accomplished was either unnecessary or is being taken care of by God.
4.  Be open to the Spirit's leading.  You may find your day interupted by divine appointments.  Instead of resisting the iterruptions, flow with the one thing as God brings it across your path.  You'll be amazed at the joy and freedom that comes from surrendering your agenda to cooperating with his. 

Proverbs 16:3 states Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.