Apr 08
Today’s Truth
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
Friend to Friend
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was to twirl in the grass. With arms out stretched, I’d spin around and around until I was silly-dizzy, and then fall to the ground with a giggly heart. It was thrilling, invigorating and a fun, simple way to spend a lazy summer day in the rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Now that I’m older, I can’t handle spinning in circles. My body rejects any twisty endeavor. Nausea quickly sets in and reminds me that I’m not a young “spinny-girl” anymore.
Several years ago while my family and I were at an amusement park, in an effort to gain favor in the eyes of my kids and earn imaginary super mom points I enthusiastically got on a ride that spins in circles. My hero-husband always goes on this type of ride with our children, so I thought, “If Brad can do it, then I can do it, right?”
Not. So. Much.
I walked up the ramp to the wretched “Wheel of Whirl” naively optimistic and walked down the ramp having made a great big fool of myself. The park employee had to stop the ride to let me off. Bad decision. Yucky feelings followed. Instead of becoming super mom I became super sick mom. My center of balance and emotions were completely thrown off leaving my poor family with the disenchanted consequences of my twirling ambitions.
Just like that day in the amusement park, I constantly find myself thrown off balance from the wheeling whirl of life clutter.
Why?
Simply put: I complicate my life.
If we’re being honest, then I’d have to confess that I am one of my own biggest obstacles to living as an uncluttered woman. I know that I should depend solely on God for direction and strength, but the simple fact is I often don’t. Most of us would admit that this is the case. Right?
It’s hard to sift through all that is thrown at us each day. Clutter happens and navigating this silly-dizzy world is difficult. There are ten bazillion things that vie for our attention and clutter our faith: emotions, materialism, negative thinking, overbooked schedules, doubts, legalism, laziness, self-reliance, our past pains and failures, technology, work, our desire to control things, finances, debt, stress, addictions, discontentment and relationships. And I’m just getting started!
The Bible instructs us to direct our silly-dizzy days toward God.
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3, NIV)
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV)
In His presence, God gives order to both our thoughts and our to-do lists.
Everything changes when we seek Him first and commit our plans to Him.
Becoming an uncluttered woman is all about personal contact with Jesus. You and I will experience greater peace and deeper faith as we determine to respond to His constant invitation to come.
And don’t worry … Jesus is no stranger to clutter.
He walked the same earth we do and dealt with the same struggles and problems we deal with. He loved many a cluttered woman while here on earth and many more before and since His ascension. He knows your clutter – all of your complicated stuff – and He invites you to come just the same.
When we position ourselves in the presence of the Peace-giver and ask Him to lead and prioritize our heart matters, the uncluttering begins. And in the uncluttering our chaos is calmed.
Let’s Pray
Dear God, Thanks for reminding me that I can always come to You and trade in my exhaustion for Your rejuvenation. Please bring order to my day and establish my priorities according to Your will. Show me how to become an uncluttered woman.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” What are you seeking first? Are there activities, emotions, relationships, or thoughts in your life that need to be committed to the Lord? Spend a few moments in prayer and ask the Lord to establish your plans according to His will.
Since we’ve gone there devotionally, let’s go deeper by exploring this topic musically. Click here to join me on my blog right now and watch the music video for Uncluttered. Then share a few thoughts on my wall about your top clutter concerns – or simply write, “I’m done with the clutter!”
More from the Girlfriends
Gwen Smith’s new book, I WANT IT ALL, is a passionate call to follow God with great expectation for the impact, the challenge—and the blessing—that comes from dreaming big dreams and believing that God keeps his promises. I WANT IT ALL ignites a fire in readers to experience more faith, more power, and more impact. More of Jesus. All of Jesus. Everything that God has for them.
Order yours today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or ChristianBook.com.
Sometimes the Matthew 6:33 scripture is used as a fill-in to assure people that whatever they are praying for, in His name, He is going to supply.
vs. 33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” ALL THESE THINGS referencing the verses just above, eats, drinks, and clothing. Not everything people pray about, while truly believing they are praying for the will of God in their lives. It can be a little misleading without explanation of that particular verse. We pray our children will serve God all their lives, that our husbands will come to know God, that our friend will get off drugs, etc… and every bit of that sounds like the will of God, so then when someone uses the Matthew 33 verse, I think it needs clarity that, no matter what happens in life, no matter what we are praying for, those three things (eats, drink, and clothing) will always be provided.
I have a ladies small group and we are presently enjoying “Knowing God by Name.” Keep up His work.
Thank you for all the wonderful information here. I just recently became a Christian and I am learning so much. There is so much to learn it feels kind of overwhelming. I am a little confused, I know that asking God for a long list of things is not a good idea. But if we ask for help, genuine help. Example I have a son, 22 years old who is in jail, he is a heroin addict. It has been so hard on me, my husband (his Dad) and my other two kids, his little sister and little brother. Bradley has been in jail for a couple years, he is getting out of jail on April 17th. I am so scared he will use drugs again. There are so many challenges to this kids who use drugs. I don’t want to lose my son, I don’t want him to die or use again. I want the normal things a Mom wants for her kid, a job, a Christian wife and good family. And of course a good relationship with Jesus, he will need that to stay clean. I pray that God will give him a relationship with Jesus and some good Christian friends and a reason to live with out drugs. But how can God make that happen? Am I praying on deaf ears, I am so scared I wake up at night in a cold sweat. My husband is not a Christian, he believes when you die that is it, nothing happens. I have been praying for him, but nothing has changed my husband. Thank you for reading this. God bless
Sherrie,
I will be praying for you, your husband and your son. Know that all things are possible with God. Only trust.
Blessings.
I had just finished running around to the grocery store, taking kids to piano and violin. I sat waiting outside outside the last stop alone in the car. I reached for my phone and read your post. I cried my way though reading it. I was exhausted. But I didn’t cry from discouragement I was overwhelmed that the God of this universe wanted to spend time with me. There are so many things internally and externally in my life that have brought me down. But the truth is when I sit at HIS feet I’m reminded of how he has it all under control. I can trust him because He loves me. Thanks for the reminder.
I read Sherry Message.
Please be encouraged SHERRY, God is working
on your request RIGHT NOW
God is an awesome GOD be encouraged.