Many of us are familiar with the old adage, “Jack of all trades, master of none” because we feel it correctly describes us. We know how to do many things with average ability, but lack the skill to do any one thing unusually well.
Our social lives tend to follow this same trend, though we’d describe it in different terms. With friendships, we aren’t a “Jill of all trades,” instead we lament that our circle of friends stretches a mile wide but only an inch deep.
Concerning our schedules, our calendars are so littered with appointments, activities, and obligations, we’ve become rushed, frazzled, and unable to focus. We are running, shaky and out-of-breath, and we are ready to collapse.
How do we begin to change?
The question is imperative because we can’t continue in this same approach, being rushed along with the current of our culture, allowing life to simply happen to us.
How do we begin to change? How do we begin to live a focused life?
I am asking myself these same questions because how many times have I lamented my overwhelmed schedule and my distraction-led life?
Ever since I was a little girl, my grandfather reminded me of a very simple concept — “Ordinary ability, when focused, excels.”
His wise advice applies to far more than skills and talents. Every time Grandpa shared this wisdom, he spoke to the power of a purposeful, focused life. One that starts, first, with seeking the Lord.
“One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4).
Do you want a focused life? A purposeful life? A life that doesn’t settle for ordinary but excels and sparkles with the glory of God? Seek Him first.
Spend time in the Scriptures. Pour out your heart to God in prayer. Listen for His voice, and walk obediently in faith. He will lead you. And as He does, trust Him in the process and the place He’s chosen.
When you are following God’s lead — not what everyone else in the blogging world is doing, not what your best friend is doing, not what the mentor you so admire is doing — when you do what God leads you to do, you will not miss out. You will not get left behind. You don’t have to worry about measuring up or becoming a success.
On those days you’re worried you’ll never “make it” because your role as Mom is more than a full-time job, trust God to be faithful with the few.
Trust HIM to “build your house” — to establish your legacy, protect your reputation, build your ”platform” — while you’re faithful with the few to whom He’s called you.
We can lie down and sleep because it is the LORD who sustains us. Our ambition and success and accolades and social network will not sustain us. The Lord does.
There is rest, not striving, when we are faithful in the places God has called us.
When you’re feeling off-kilter and lopsided, ask yourself:
- How is my relationship with the Lord? If I’m not spending time with Him by reading the Bible and praying, I must start here because everything else in my life stems from this. Once I am growing and abiding in Jesus, I move to the next question.
- How is my home? What is the state of my relationships with my husband and kids? Am I letting obligations, distractions, or any other pastimes impede my relationships with my family? Am I living distracted, consistently missing opportunities to really see and hear them? Repeatedly sidetracked from the time we can spend together?
Once those two questions are settled, we can pray through our other obligations and priorities. We’re not striving for balance, we’re seeking a rhythm, and that rhythm feels much more fluid when those first two priorities are in order.
As we seek God, He will show us where to focus our time, energy, talents, and treasures. Will we obey?
Will we trust Him in the unseen, unknown, small places? Will we walk obediently — focused on Him? Seeking Him? Trusting Him with the results?
We have the time. We have the resources. We have all that we need to seek the Lord. What’s holding us back?
Asking, seeking, knocking with you,
Erika
Amy Tilson says
March 18, 2015 at 12:08 pmI think one of the biggest myths today is that we need to find balance. We need to add on to both ends to keep the middle centered. Then more and more gets added to equal out the scales. That is so counter-productive. I love the idea of a rhythm, an ebb and flow of busy and quiet that is much more sustainable. Also, the idea that the ordinary becomes excellent with focus is brilliant! What a wise grandfather to share that wisdom. Thank you for passing it along!