The series I planned to write on how to avoid feeling burned out, overwhelmed, frazzled and worn out was originally planned as a one week series but has spilled over into a couple. I've shared only two things with you so far - spending time with God and spending time with friends. Today I want to talk to you about another...
Being Thankful
1 Chronicles 16:8 - 11
Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
When life is pressing down - be thankful.
When the laundry piles up, the to-do list is long and you really need a nap - be thankful.
When you think you should do more, have more, or be more - be thankful.
There is always, always, always something to be thankful for!
Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It's so easy to fall into a trap of feeling overwhelmed or worn-out. After all, the work of a mother is hard work. If you have found it to be easy you might be doing it wrong. But no matter how you feel there is so much to be thankful for. Dirty dishes to wash mean you have food to eat. Dirty clothes mean your family isn't naked (or they haven't been recently). Dirty kids usually means fun has been had.
When I'm feeling burned out and overwhelmed if I stop and take just a few minutes to pray and reflect on all I have to be thankful for my mind and heart are quickly re-focused. When the work of homeschooling takes it's toll and I'm tempted to throw in the towel I only have to pause for a moment to give thanks to God for the privilege of homeschooling our children. Giving thanks changes your perspective quickly! Things don't have to peachy all the time either. Try giving thanks to God for that really hard situation you are going through. It might be painful, or confusing, or unfair as we see it, but give thanks to God for what He is going to do by His grace and for His glory in and through your circumstance. We can't always know why things happen as they do but we can know the character of God and we can always trust Him!
Do you think God only hears the prayers that are well thought out and articulately spoken? No! God hears the whispered prayers of the tired mom and the frantic prayers of the stressed out mom. He knows our every thought. He knows our anxiety and He asks us to give it to Him.
Decide for yourself today that you are going to spend more of your heart energy being thankful. It will change everything. I know some of you are going through really difficult circumstances. I'm not trying to make light of that. Being thankful for what is all around you while you are going through hard times helps more than you can imagine.
Is it possible to exchange those things that burden us for thankful thoughts? I believe it is!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Chronicles 16:8 - 11
Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
When life is pressing down - be thankful.
When the laundry piles up, the to-do list is long and you really need a nap - be thankful.
When you think you should do more, have more, or be more - be thankful.
There is always, always, always something to be thankful for!
Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It's so easy to fall into a trap of feeling overwhelmed or worn-out. After all, the work of a mother is hard work. If you have found it to be easy you might be doing it wrong. But no matter how you feel there is so much to be thankful for. Dirty dishes to wash mean you have food to eat. Dirty clothes mean your family isn't naked (or they haven't been recently). Dirty kids usually means fun has been had.
When I'm feeling burned out and overwhelmed if I stop and take just a few minutes to pray and reflect on all I have to be thankful for my mind and heart are quickly re-focused. When the work of homeschooling takes it's toll and I'm tempted to throw in the towel I only have to pause for a moment to give thanks to God for the privilege of homeschooling our children. Giving thanks changes your perspective quickly! Things don't have to peachy all the time either. Try giving thanks to God for that really hard situation you are going through. It might be painful, or confusing, or unfair as we see it, but give thanks to God for what He is going to do by His grace and for His glory in and through your circumstance. We can't always know why things happen as they do but we can know the character of God and we can always trust Him!
Do you think God only hears the prayers that are well thought out and articulately spoken? No! God hears the whispered prayers of the tired mom and the frantic prayers of the stressed out mom. He knows our every thought. He knows our anxiety and He asks us to give it to Him.
Decide for yourself today that you are going to spend more of your heart energy being thankful. It will change everything. I know some of you are going through really difficult circumstances. I'm not trying to make light of that. Being thankful for what is all around you while you are going through hard times helps more than you can imagine.
Is it possible to exchange those things that burden us for thankful thoughts? I believe it is!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Thank you! It is easy to get so over whelmed with our daily lives. It is sometimes not so easy to be thankful. A great reminder to give thanks in all things for there is always something to be thankful for in our day to day hecticness.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jen
Another good truth for dealing with the overwhelmed-ness. Ann Voskamp is an excellent proponent of this very thing. I highly recommend "One Thousand Gifts." The book is awesome and her blog gives great tools for being intentional about gratitude. Life transforming, for sure.
ReplyDeleteLove ya, Skister THankful for you!