Happy Monday friends!

 

Before I begin today's devotion, I felt compelled to start with this important message:

 

 

 

I felt like I was supposed to share that with you!

 

Let's jump into our final week of the series. As I wrote last week’s devotion, I grappled with our scripture reading about how Jesus loved everyone, but he didn’t always help everyone who asked. That was tough for me, and it was tough teaching for many of you. If you didn’t read last week’s devotion or if you need to reprocess it again, you can read it here.

 

We'll wrap up talking this series on letting go of what God doesn't want you to carry by looking at with two practical tools. These can lead you to freedom from taking on more than you can handle! I use these tools and God has blessed me with more peace and wisdom. I want the same blessing for you!

 

For some of us, we were raised always to say “yes” when it pertains to church or our families. Yes, it's good to show up for family, but when we have the mindset that we always should say “yes," all of the time, that isn't healthy and it may not be God's best for us.

 

In our devotion last week, we saw how Jesus loved everyone, but because he knew his mission, he didn’t always say “yes” when people asked for help. Yes, we should help when we can, but when we say “yes” too much, it keeps us from having the time to be available for the things that God maybe calling us to do.

 

Let me share two tools that will equip you against taking on more than you can handle. One tool I created and the other tool has been around forever, but most of us aren't using it.

God created us with emotional and physical limits. You have a limit, and I have a limit. We were not created to be everything to everybody. The problem is that we ignore our mental and physical limits or we don’t know how to assess them because we're too busy taking care of everyone else and we aren't aware of ourselves. 

 

When we’re unclear about our limits, we’ll often say “yes” to wonderful things. But too many wonderful things may turn us into exhausted wrecks. 

 

What do we do to prevent this: Here are the two crucial questions that I developed for myself. These wise  “limits” questions equip me to assess what season I'm in and these prompt me to be honest about whether I can handle more or if I need to focus on staying within my limits.

Given all of your current obligations, how would you answer those questions right now? If you can’t answer “yes” to both, then chances are, you’re over the limit for what is healthy spiritually or physically for you. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s true. Anytime we’re over our spiritual or physical limits, we’re setting ourselves up for discouragement, exhaustion, anxiety, depression, or worse, burnout.

 

 

Th good news is that once you recognize that you're over the limit, you can do something about it! The question is whether you will, which I encourage you to do so. (Start with attending my online event!)

 

As someone who lived over her limit for decades, I promise you that the best decision you’ll ever make for your spiritual, physical, and mental health is to bring your schedule and obligations to a place where you can answer “yes” to both of those questions. For me, it meant changing a career. And that hard choice was absolutely worth it.

 

Some of us don’t know how to stop moving. Others of us have never learned how to feel safe sitting still. The good news is that God has given us a practice tool to learn how to do both. Are you ready?

 

Sabbath.

 

Most all of us have been taught about sabbath. Yet, most Christian women have every excuse under the sun for why they don’t do it. God instituted the Sabbath and Jesus affirmed it. Yet, we’re too busy to do it.

 

I’ve never met a woman who is overloaded and still practices a true Sabbath.

 

 Why does God ask us to do this:

Some of us have never learned that we’re safe and accepted when we’re still. We’ve tied our security or self-esteem to always being busy. Sabbath is how God trains us to find safety and security in Him.

 

Friends, over fifteen years ago, Sabbath changed my life. Even now as I travel a lot and write lots of books, I am committed to one day off per week to honor God and rest my body. I’m self-employed in ministry, so Sabbath is an act of faith that God will take care of me when I’m not working.

 

YOUR CHALLENGE: This week, pick one day and clear the day from appointments/obligations, errands, or cleaning. Yes, you can still do basic care for older loved ones or childcare, but the sabbath goal is to eliminate the mental labor and errands. Spend your Sabbath doing things that make you feel joyful and alive, whether visiting with friends, making a meal, gardening, hobbies, or a nap.