On Edge

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12

I have been on the edge lately with my son Mikey--partly because he is a very active, LOUD four year old boy (who likes to push my buttons); partly because I am a woman and have to deal with these blasted hormones. However, as I was reading through an excerpt of The Love Dare, I realized that while I was exhorting Mikey to pray for his heart, I needed to pray about mine. I was irritable! The Love Dare, Day 6 says…Love is not irritable. OK God, I get it! Check out the following excerpt and see if you can relate. I know I can!

“To be irritable means “to be near the point of a knife”. Not far from being poked. People who are irritable are locked, loaded, and ready to overreact…Life is a marathon, not a sprint. This means you must balance, prioritize, and pace yourself. Too often we throw caution to the wind and run full steam ahead, doing what feels right at the moment. Soon we are grasping for air, wound up in knots, and ready to snap. The increasing pressure can wear away at our patience and our relationship.
The Bible can help you avoid unhealthy stress. It teaches you to let love guide your relationships so you aren’t caught up in unnecessary arguments (Colossians 3:12-14). To pray through your anxieties instead of tackling them on your own (Philippians 4:6-7). To delegate when you are overworked (Exodus 18:17-23). To avoid overindulgence (Proverbs 25:16).

It also exhorts you to take a “Sabbath” vacation day every week for worship and rest. This strategically allows you time to recharge, refocus, and add breathing room or margin to your weekly schedule. Establishing these kinds of extra spaces will place cushions between you and the pressures around you, reducing the stress that keeps you on edge around your mate…[or in this case, my kids.]”
After reading this, I realized that we need a little more margin in our daily schedule—a time to unwind, relax, and regroup as a family. I am go-go-go to the extreme, often hanging out with other wonderful families from the morning until just before it’s time for me to go home and make a hurried dinner…I have another confession to make—I tend to follow that same routine every day. We need Sabbath rest. We need margin. Let’s not sprint through life just trying to make it to the finish line (or bedtime) each day.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, in your infinite wisdom, you made the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Please help me to follow your example and to take time to rest, both mentally and physically. Help me to delegate tasks that I don’t have to do myself. Help me to have quiet time with you, and help me to teach my kids to have quiet time too. God, I want to be loving, self-controlled, and long suffering. I do not want to be irritable. Please help me, God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Question: Have you been irritable lately? What kind of margin can you work into your daily routine?

Challenge:
Check out the following passages and apply them to your life:
• Colossians 3:12-14 (Getting dressed—spiritually speaking)
• Exodus 18:17-23 (Delegating tasks)
• Proverbs 25:16 (avoiding overindulgence—i.e. too much of a good thing is still too much)
• Philippians 4:6-7 (taking time to pray)