Work Smarter, Not Harder

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.

“ARGH! What’s with the streaks?” I whisper-shouted to no one in particular as I stood in my sunroom, hands on hips, lip curled in disgust, glaring as the late afternoon sun revealed the smudges in the windows I’d spent all day washing.

I’d tried everything I knew to prevent streaks, including lots of old-fashioned elbow grease and a special concoction my friend swears works miracles. Yet my best efforts hadn’t been good enough. Muttering to no one in particular, I picked up my rags and cleaner, ready to return to work now that I could see the problem well enough to tackle it properly.

As I cleaned with purpose, my arm already aching from having blindly wiped for hours, I pondered the spiritual significance of working hard but blindly versus working with precision because I could see clearly.

How often do I race through life, trying to do what I think Jesus wants me to do before finally pausing halfway through to prayerfully ask if I’m on the right track?

How much unnecessary time and energy do I expend and what emotional toll do I subject myself to by not asking God to direct my steps before I jump into a situation?

My thoughts were gently convicting as I stood on sore feet, redoing work already done, silently praying: Lord, forgive my perennial attempts to run ahead of you. Thank you for your guidance, your promise to direct my steps. Help me to wait patiently on you; your way is always better. Amen.

God promises to direct our paths, to guide our steps, to make the way clear, but we have to trust him, listen for the Holy Spirit’s voice through Scripture and prayer, and wait on God’s plan. While waiting may feel hard in the moment, it almost always brings about better results with less striving. His plan is far superior to ours, and he’s willing to share it—if we’ll listen.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Ask God for clear direction on a big decision through prayer and Scripture, thanking him in advance for showing you the correct path.