day 113: See The Forest

It's the beginning of the work week and what seemed like over the weekend to be a manageable and planned out week can on a Monday morning, in an instant, turn into an overwhelming stack of things in the to-do list. The more we look at the list, the more that gets added and then the more there is actually to do and before long we feel overwhelmed and begin to feel like we are drowning in it all. This is a dangerous place to find ourselves because it is in this place, way deep into the woods, that we begin to make decisions that are based more on the urgent than the important and we scramble to take the little things off of the task list while the big, chunky, critical items remain and pile up. It is in those moments that we have lost perspective and fulfill the old adage, "we can't see the forest for the trees". Often in these times we need to get some help. We can reach to those who we work with to delegate, ask for support, redefine or redistribute the workload. All of which are good things to do, but let's not forget that we have a larger power with us who wants to be there at the office with us too. He wants to have His work be done in the office and will be there with us if we just allow Him to do so. Look no further than in Romans 12:12 for words to carry us through the days when we feel overwhelmed, overworked and lost in the trees: "Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying". It is hard to be patient when we are in trouble and this verse would imply that we can't unless we have both the confidence in the hope of what our Lord gives us and that we keep on praying into the problems and issues that we cannot handle on our own. It is not below God for us to ask Him to help us be better, more productive, more efficient and good at what we do at work. We were made to work and He wants us to be good at what we do so we can bring glory to Him in everything in our lives. So, when the forest starts to close in on you this week, take a deep breath, remember the hope that you have in Him and take a moment to rejoice and then take your to-Do list to God and let Him help you see past the big trees in front of you. Be confident because, He will!

Reference: Romans 12:12 (New Living Testament)

day 79: Prioritizing Our To-Do Lists

Have you ever been to a time management class where they teach you to make a to-do list and and then place an "A" next to the most important items, then a "B" next to the next set on the importance scale, then a "C" and a "D"? After you do all of those then you can note "A1", "A2"....."B1, B2"...and on and on and you do know that you aren't even supposed to pay attention to the "C's and D's"? That is the drill. It does make you better organized and more productive so it is a good skill to develop. And the drill is good for the priorities of life too. The question always is though how is is that we know what are the "A's"? At work it is always the balance between urgent and important. Sometimes the urgent takes over, but if we make that the priority standard then we end up chasing short-term tasks vs. also seeing the long-term strategic needs. If we err the other way then we end up looking over the horizon and missing the short-term, ultimately not getting much done. So, yes it is a balance. As believers we need to also factor in that we have another higher priority that must influence our to-do list. Galatians 5:22 tells us, "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." We have to be sure that we get our "A1" right first and once we have that at the top of the list then from there "A2" and on and on will fall into place. So today as you sit down to look at that list in front of you, take a moment to be sure that your "A1" is living in the Spirit and allowing the Spirit to lead across all parts of our lives. That is the "A1" that we all should be sure we have in life and at work.

Reference: Galatians 5:22 (New Living Testament)