Day breaks and as my feet hit the floor I’m running; both physically and mentally. I have things to do, places to go, people to see… don’t we all? I’m rapidly planning out my day even before my morning cup of coffee. This is not necessarily a bad thing because I typically get a lot done, but where does Jesus fit into the equation? I was convicted about the pace at which I do things recently when reading the story of the woman at the well. Jesus had sent his disciples away to buy lunch and, while they were gone, he had this in-depth conversation with a woman who was a social outcast. When his disciples returned, they were not only astonished by his talking with this woman, but also by the fact that he was no longer hungry. Puzzled, they asked where he had gotten something to eat. Jesus’ answer stopped me in my tracks, “My food (what fulfills me) is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”(NKJ)
Do I consider His will enough as I plan and rush though my day? Yes, there are things I must do, like go to work, and while there I consciously try to represent Him well. To be honest, I often find satisfaction in the amount of things I get done. Yet, I don’t always find an urgency within me to recognize His will beyond what is already required of me. Therefore, I pose these questions: Does doing God’s will have to be complicated or time consuming? Does it have to be earth moving before we see it as important? The answer should be no. It could be as simple as noticing the usual sparkle is gone from someone’s eyes. Do we inquire or offer an encouraging word? Or are we too busy to notice? Maybe we are too preoccupied with our own stuff to care. Sadly, I’m guilty of this at times.
At the Apostle Paul’s conversion, his first prayer, as I’m sure it became his daily prayer, was, “Jesus, what would you have me to do?”
“Yes – Jesus, What would you have me to do?” This should be our hearts’ cry. The first thing we pray in the morning and something to be mindful of throughout the day. Let’s not merely focus on our own plans and all that we want or need to accomplish, but pray: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth (in me) as it is in heaven.” Not only will others, like the woman at the well and her whole village, be blessed; but we will be fed and full because we obeyed the will of our Father.
John 6:27 tells us, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (NKJ)
I work hard and get a lot done in a day, but how much of it matters? How much of it is eternal? Am I sensitive to hear His voice and to follow the leading of His Spirit in every situation that comes my way? I want the answer to be, yes. How about you? Does your busy schedule keep you in push mode? Are you programmed to only focus on the task at hand? The pace at which we live could be the very thing that keeps us from fulfilling God’s will on a daily basis. Let’s live life on purpose, with His will in the forefront of our thoughts and actions. That we might partake of His heavenly food here and now and find our fulfillment in Him, knowing our lives made a difference for good.
