Enjoy Your Life!
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NLT)
If I'm honest I've been struggling to enjoy this beautiful life GOD has given me. The last few years or so have been pretty rough! But in the midst of it all, I have seen the goodness of the LORD! I think my problem is that I'm a processor and tend to get in my head a little too much. If I'm not careful I'll take up residence there for way too long. I heard a statistic that about 80% of our thoughts are just the thoughts from the day before and only 20% are new. Wow! That makes sense! Once again, GOD knew what HE was talking about when HE said that we need to renew our mind in HIS Word daily. This way, we'll have new thoughts! In any case, I tend to ruminate a lot! I'm sure many of you can relate!
So, yesterday, I was having such a hard time getting out of my head. And I was asking GOD to help me lay it all down. I had so many of the same thoughts. Why did my Mom pass, Dad, Sister? Why did this other thing happen? What is my purpose? Why can't I seem to move on? Why am I still waiting? Why, why, why? But it wasn't coming from a place of pride. I honestly wanted to be humble before HIM. My heart was really inquiring, “What am I supposed to do with all of it?” Instead of "why" it really was more of a "what and how" does HE want me to move on from all of the grief...through the discouragement and disappointment? It feels hard because it seems so burdensome. Thankfully GOD says, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”(Matthew 11:29-30 NKJV) Still how do I do that in the practical when I wake up thinking the same thing daily and have all these questions. The thing is those thoughts bring in the feels. So, I guess the best way to put it is that I'm in my feelings. Which then can turn the day into a slippery slope of potential hopelessness!
However, I am grateful for GODs Word, that gives me HIS life-giving truths to meditate daily on. I know that I have to take my thoughts captive and let them align with HIS Word, because the Bible also says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV) So, I know to do this! But once again, not as easy! I'm not trying to make excuses, I'm just trying to say, we've all been there and I can definitely relate.
Additionally, I've heard that another good way to combat all this excessive thinking is to make a schedule for it. For example, if the temptation is to think about it on end then give yourself a limited set time to think about it. Then drop it and move on. This way, you get it out of your system and are able to move on with the rest of your day.
On that same note, I also heard from one of the hundreds of podcasts I listen to that most of the "issues/problems" we think about over and over again tend to have two outcomes.
We either think about the problem and come up with a solution. Or if it can't be solved, then when we put it down and quit thinking about it, we'll find that many times it gets resolved on it's own. Sometimes someone else has or is the solution. And then other times the problem just expires to where there isn't anything more we can do about it. There is only so much we can think about concerning a problem or situation. If our thinking doesn't lead us to a possible solution then we must put it down, take a break, and leave it alone. If we give it time maybe later we'll get a better idea. But worrying about something doesn't actually solve it. Therefore, it's not worth wasting so much time and energy on it.
The Bible puts it this way, "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT) along with "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).
I guess the bottom line of what I'm trying to say is that I was reminded yesterday at church to enjoy life! Enjoy what HE has given me and my "lot in life"! I especially love the part where it says "God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past." This helps me to stop thinking so much...ruminating on "what ifs" or why certain scenarios or circumstances even happened! Instead it reminds me that life is short in the context of eternity so I need to enjoy it! And the permission itself to enjoy it is a gift from GOD! So, enjoy your work and lot in life—it is a gift from GOD! GOD Bless!
my hair the sunshine on my
face! And doing a little bit
of enjoying!
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