The Busy Epidemic
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
In today’s modern world it’s easy to stay busy just to achieve the tasks for the day and worrying about the things of tomorrow. As our life gets busy it can become a habit, both in tasks and in the way we think. We might say we can become addicted to staying busy to the point that we have trouble slowing down and relaxing because our conscious tells us we should be doing something. The addiction of business affects us in many ways, it can make us rushed, impatience, less spiritual, steal our peace and joy, and leave us tired and exhausted.
Can busyness lead to stress? If we rush and become impatience we can become stressful, and what does stress do to us? We can become angry or fearful, activating the “fight or flight” response, continually releasing hormones into our body. These hormones can be harmful if we are continually in this state, and it can cause heart problems, high blood pressure, and other diseases. If we are busy both in tasks and thought, our mind can stay busy during our sleep, preventing the mind from its normal housekeeping. Lack of sleep with a mind staying busy, can cause our cognitive ability to decrease.
God did not create us for the purpose of living in a state of business. Busyness can take our mind off the things of God, and place it on our tasks and schedules. This is the ways of Satan; it is just the opposite of how God wants us to live. We are to do our task and schedules with our mind staying connected to God. He says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10) To be still means to let go of the things of the world and bring God into your life. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15) How can we have peace if our minds stay busy? We learn to achieve our tasks in a relaxed state of mind with our thoughts on our work and communing with God. Maintain your connection to the Lord at all times and be uncomfortable when the connection is not there.
Slow down mentally and strive for a mind of love, peace, and comfort. Commune with the Lord as you patiently walk through your day achieving your tasks. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23) If we maintain our connection to the Lord, and do everything for the Lord, we tend to be unrushed and relaxed in our work, which tends to make us more efficient. Take breaks to pray and at the end of the day schedule alone quite time with the Lord, escaping the world. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) Focusing on God and eternity helps to put things in priority and can also give us a relaxed state with peace and joy.
Today walk with the Lord, communing with him with thankfulness, praise, and asking for guidance and help in your tasks. Invite the Lord into every detail of your life, because he loves you perfectly and wants to help you in every detail of your life,. Make it a habit today, to be one with the Lord.
Prayer: Help me to slow down inside, in my mind, no matter what I am doing in this world. Let me live with love, peace, and joy, and don’t let Satan use the world to steal it away from me. Lord I invite you into every moment of my life today, and thank you for leading me through life in your love and divine wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen