Beware Of Spending Too Much Time On Matters Of Little Importance

It’s nice to know God is in control and nothing happens in my life that He hasn’t allowed. Let’s just say that I have gone through some major changes in my life this week, both at work and at home. Blogging has become kind of an addiction with me. It’s hard to cut back but being on the computer all day is making it easier for me to do. I also found a saying in the March-April-May 2010 “Our Daily Bread” that really hit home with me: “Beware of spending too much time on matters of too little importance.” Although blogging is something I enjoy, it really isn’t important, is it? God, my husband, my pets, my friends (although I do have some very dear blogging buddies who I consider friends as well), my health, my work is all more important. I was putting a lot of extra pressure on me to rush through supper so I could get to reading and commenting on the blogs I follow in my reader. I’m just not going to make that a daily task anymore. I’ll get to it if and when I feel like it for my own sanity.

After many years of having a very cushy job that I felt I wasn’t really earning my pay, I moved to a new floor with new lawyers and a lot of new responsibilities. Way back when I first started, I was very busy most of the time and I really liked it! Now that is how it is again. I am looking at this as a challenge and already have seen how God is using this to do a new work in me. My first couple days were horrible. I’m used to being on top of things and I felt like I was struggling to “keep my head above water.” I had lots of filing to get caught up on and no printer for labels or envelopes so had to rely on other secretaries for assistance (who were very nice because they have been swamped for a long time and are thrilled to have another secretary on their floor to take up some of their load). By Friday, I finally got pretty much all the filing done and a temporary printer too! I’ve learned many new procedures related to my job this week and finally see some light at the end of the tunnel and a better attitude.

For some time now I’ve been lax in having a quiet time every morning, just praying at the bus stop. Well, now with this job change it has made me rely on God more and seek His help to learn new things quickly and adjust to my new bosses. It has been a very stressful week so I knew I needed to put blogging aside and get some exercise in first thing in the morning just to allow me to relieve some that stress. Wednesday, though I came across a message on a blog that I really needed to hear. Unfortunately, I can’t remember which one it was. I know I found a video on Beth Moore’s LPM blog that reminded me to stay in the word. I posted the following verses and prayer in my cubicle so I would be reminded through the day: Philippians 4:13--

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

and Proverbs 17:22--

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Father, in Heaven, I choose to rejoice (sing, shout, clap, dance, spin around) in you.
I set my heart, mind and emotions on you today knowing that you are faithful. I will
Sing of your mercies and goodness all the days of my life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

At the end of the day, my brain needs a rest so I have been relaxing more in the evenings with my husband watching TV or just enjoying playing with my pets. I look forward to the warmer weather too when I will join him on dog walks and work in the yard or play some tennis again. All this means that I must let go of the pressure I put on myself to visit the blogs I follow regularly. There just isn’t enough time in the day to comment on all the blogs that I’d like, but I did enjoy it while it lasted. Now, I’m actually on the computer pretty constantly at work so by evening, I’ve had enough. Gerard is happy about this! He’s been wanting to get on it more and also likes me spending more time with him.

I think these are both positive changes that have come about from this job change. I try to look for what God wants to teach me through my life experiences that he allows in my life and so far I’ve come up with these two big changes in my routine. I have noticed that I actually have more energy when I’m busy all day than when I wasn’t. I definitely feel more needed at work again and feel better about accepting the paycheck.

Are you addicted to blogging? What are you spending too much time on that really isn’t important? Is God trying to tell you something? How is He working in your life?