For where your
treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21
In the world of constant hustle and bustle, let’s work on keeping rooted when our mind runs wild.
I woke up this morning feeling a little overwhelmed, a little cranky, and a whole lot of the feeling of being pulled in several different directions. Each morning guarantees a brand new day filled with brand new opportunities and as a mom…it includes a to-do list and a child to keep alive.
I start off wanting to utilize every second of the small window I have before my toddler wakes up (which I’m so grateful for! My toddler LOVES her sleep, and I realize most parents are woken up by their early-rising kiddos). I want to get my exercise in, clean the kitchen if I didn’t get it totally cleaned the night before, spend time with Jesus, do whatever my husband needs me to get done to help support him since he works a full-time job, and the list can go on depending on the day. Sometimes I feel buried before I’ve even gotten out of bed, and I feel guilty about it because I’m a stay at home home and should have all the time in the world to get these things done. Right?
Nope. I keep trying to remind myself that I once had a job as a nanny where I got paid to do exactly what I’m doing now… except for the minor detail that I got to run out the door at a certain time each day to return to my own home where quietness and calmness awaited me (I mean this in fun, I absolutely love where my life is now and wouldn’t change it for the world!). But coming back to the point- being a home provider, child caregiver, and support to your spouse is a full-time job in itself.
In my devotions yesterday, I read over the passage in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus was preaching the Sermon on the Mount, and He’s challenging us in this passage to keep our focus on eternal things rather than earthly things. It’s as if God was giving me this reminder for how I’d feel this morning and giving me exactly what I’d need to be reminded of (no shocker there).
So as I was feeling all these feelings and not being able to focus on one particular task without my mind going over all the things I needed to get done, I hopped on the treadmill and began to walk. As I walked, I pulled up my prayer list on my iPad and began to talk to God. I’ve learned that when I’m feeling out of focus and scattered, God recenters me when I talk to Him.
It was not easy at first, as it rarely ever is. My mind would suddenly jump back to my to-do list, but it started getting easier when I started listing off the things I was praising Him for- Who He is and what He’s done and does for me.
This reminded me of the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42. When Jesus came to visit them, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet but Martha ran around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to prepare everything for Jesus’ visit.
“As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He said.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked ‘Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’
‘Martha, Martha’ the Lord answered. ‘You are worried and upset about many things,
But few things are needed or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and I will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
If there’s ever a person in the Bible I related to most, it was definitely Martha; and I too would have been getting cranky that I was the only one up doing all the work, ESPECIALLY if the most important human being in all the world was taking the time to visit in my home.
But, Jesus affirmed to Martha that it was not only ok to sit and chill in His presence, He affirmed that it was His WILL.
This is when I’m so thankful God understands our humanness and has patience with us. He knows our human tendencies, and He loves us enough to call us back to Him… over and over and over again.
So this brings me back to Matthew 6:21. Where we allow ourselves to focus most is ultimately where our hearts are. Just like I’ve figured out how to refocus my mind when it wanders, try learning how to refocus yours.
Here are a few ideas you can use to keep focused:
- Stay off your phone: When you first wake up, you’re tempted to open your phone first thing. Try praying or opening the Bible- Colossians 3:2 calls us to set our minds on things above.
- List off your distractions and surrender them: You can write down the things that are causing you to lose focus and then release control of them, giving them to God.
- Choose presence over productivity: Being present with your child can be one of the most godly things you can do. Things can get cleaned up and taken care of later.
- Leave reminders around the house: Try leaving scripture cards around the house, setting alarms for prayer time, or listening to worship music while you work on your to-do list or while you exercise. These can be refocus moments throughout your day.
Just remember
Your’e not failing when you get distracted. You’re showing you’re human.
God’s got unlimited love, patience, mercy, and forgiveness for us- much more than we do for ourselves.
Please feel free to share your own experiences in the comment section. I’d love to hear how God has worked in your own life in this area!
Cassondra