Chapter One
session 1 no time for
bad feelings
For You Alone
Complete the following statements. Try not to analyze them
too much. Just respond honestly with the first thoughts that come
to mind.
1. When unexpected events force me to change my plans at
the last minute, my first response is usually
______________________________________________________ .
2. If I had a quiet hour at home alone and a neighbor I didn't
know well knocked on the door, I would probably
______________________________________________________ .
3. When I feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I must
accomplish in a day, I usually
______________________________________________________ .
4. When my children or spouse develop needs that could have
been avoided with a little advance planning, I
______________________________________________________ .
5. When I say no to a request to take on a project or responsibility
because it doesn't seem to be a wise use of my time, I
usually feel
______________________________________________________ .
6. When I say yes to a request to take on a project or responsibility
in spite of not really wanting to, I usually feel
______________________________________________________ .
7. When a free hour comes up and I decide to spend it on
myself with some indulgence or pampering, I feel
______________________________________________________ .
8. It is hardest for me to focus on the task at hand when
______________________________________________________ .
Moms can relate to what Jesus said: "Each day has enough trouble
of its own" (Matthew 6:34). They often find their hearts bogged
down in the swamp of busy days. Guilt, stress, or annoyance are
only a few of the emotions that muck up their responses to events
like the ones described in the statements above. Yet the heart's
desire of most moms is to move gracefully through life as women of
God. When they don't, they worry. Inadequacy, failure, and frustration
seem more powerful than grace, and they spend their precious
days wishing they were better than they are.
But guess what: God's grace is more powerful than your inadequacy,
and he wants you to spend the time he has given you on
fruitful thoughts and tasks. Each day provides opportunity to
become better than you are, but right now you are as good as he
needs you to be.
When the "musts" and "shoulds" of life threaten to drown you
in Swamp Too-Busy-Days, how can you learn to think differently, to
begin to subject these deceptive obligations to the rule of Jesus
Christ? Over the course of the next six sessions, tell your guilt and
frustration to take a hike, and then get ready for a fresh look at managing
your time.
For You and God's Word
The demands on your time often arise out of your commitments
to good things-your family, your ministry, your career,
your passions and gifts. The Bible proclaims, "Every good and perfect
gift is from above" (James 1:17). Of course, not all perfect gifts
are maintenance-free.
1. What gifts has God given to you that require a commitment
of your time? List three that are especially important to you.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. Do these gifts primarily bring you stress or joy? Why do you
think that is?
3. On a scale from 1 (always) to 10 (never), rank the following
statements:
_____ I look at my to-do list each day with a sense of joy and
anticipation.
_____ I look at my to-do list each day with a sense of dread and
obligation.
_____ I worry about getting everything done that I need to get
done.
_____ I enjoy the gifts God has placed in my life.
_____ I am content with my present commitments and
circumstances.
_____ I get angry when things I must do crowd out time for
things I want to do.
_____ I worry about the future.
_____ I feel guilty or inadequate whenever I don't have time for
things I think are important.
_____ I go to sleep at the end of the day content with how I've
spent my time.
Read Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. Write down the verses in the space
below. (Writing out a verse often makes you more in tune to its
truths than simply reading it.)
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. List three truths you can find in these verses and personalize
them. For example, "The joy I derive from my work
comes from God alone."
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. What emotions occupy the majority of your thoughts over
the course of a busy day?
6. Do the truths you listed above affirm these emotions or
contradict them?
Read what the apostle Peter wrote to believers scattered throughout
first-century Asia Minor: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like
a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
7. What strategies might your enemy use to devour you before
you can seize the joy God offers? Identify the factors most
often responsible for robbing you of joy.
(Continues.)
