A Fresh Start

It's not easy to rest. Many of us fill our plates with more activity than we can accomplish well. And too often our cups overflow because we keep pouring more and more into them. Our TO DO lists seem to never quite get completed. And so we carry over from one day to the next what we didn't get done the day before.

Consequently, we tend to carry an ever-increasing load of projects and responsibilities. Worse still, we continue to add to our burdens with ever-decreasing hopes of achieving our goals. Sooner or later, much of our time is consumed with juggling what is urgent, while we drop what is essential and vital.

If we're going to manage our lives, our time, and our energy effectively, we must do two things:

1. Eliminate what is insignificant.

2. Elevate what is important.

That may not be new to some people, but many of us need to be reminded of those truths. We need to remember that we must maintain our balance. We do that by setting boundaries, sticking to our priorities, and resting before we are exhausted.

When we make rest a priority, we'll have the energy we need to accomplish what God wants us to do, rather than struggling to do what we think we must do. And we'll have the strength to say no when we are tempted to say yes and add one more item to our too-busy schedules. That will give us a fresh start—every day.