Jennifer Dugger

3 Books to Reboot Your Daily Habits

At the beginning of 2022, I decided to work on revamping my habits and daily routine. My schedule was inefficient. I had tons of mental clutter that swirled in my head and kept me feeling overwhelmed, and yet I was accomplishing nothing. So I gave myself a daily habit reboot!

While I walked our new puppy, I listened to these 3 books and slowly learned new tactics for how to tackle all those things on my To-Do List while also enjoying more time for myself and the things I wanted to do. I have not yet succeeded in implementing all the numerous strategies in these books, but I have made tremendous progress. I am healthier, happier, and less stressed.

Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear

I highly recommend this book. It is packed with very specific suggestions of how to develop better daily habits. I listened to the audiobook but then also purchased the hardback so I could go back and revisit certain concepts more easily. This book helped me think of ways to add in those tasks I wanted to be doing more faithfully but just couldn’t seem to accomplish regularly–drinking more water, exercising, Bible study…

The book describes 4 main methods of developing any habit: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. Then it gives examples of how to do this with different types of habits. One of my favorite aspects of this book was that you could immediately start implementing the strategies from the very first chapter. I would read a little and start making changes in my life. Then read a little more and make more changes. It was simple, specific, and practical. It was packed with so many ideas I feel like I could read it 3-4 times before truly getting everything out of it. Atomic Habits is a great book to kick off your journey to better daily routines.

Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present & Wildly Productive by Jordan Raynor

After developing a few new habits, including a more specific morning and evening routine, I decided to dive deeper into my quest for a more simplified and efficient lifestyle. This book was the 2nd book I read. A Christian-based book, it starts and ends by reminding the reader that ultimately our peace will be found in Christ, not a perfect schedule or routine.

Like the previous one, this book is full of so many specific ideas that I found it helpful to both listen to it and read through a hardback copy. Though it is geared toward people who work outside the home or have a more regular job at home, all of the suggestions can easily be adapted to other situations, such as a homeschool mom. While I read this book, I started taking control of the part of my life that was not always routine–the shifting demands of kids, church, service organizations, etc.

The main focus of this book is managing your To-Do list and all that mental clutter that makes your brain hurt. It provides a number of practices that will help you prioritize what’s important and spend less time on meaningless, less-fulfilling tasks.

how i put it into practice

Chose a tracking system for all those ideas and tasks in my head–Google Keep. I started making a variety of lists for each area in my life as well as some mental notes about ideas for the future, things I wanted to research or learn, and anything else that was in my brain. This keeps me from constantly feeling like I’m forgetting something.
Started parenting my phone. I used the Focus feature of my iPhone to quiet all those notifications that would wake me at night. I set a bedtime and wake time on my phone and turned off certain notifications that were a constant distraction. Now I’m sleeping so much better.
Developed a time for focused work. I looked at my schedule and figured out when my brain is most ready for deep thinking and when I’m least interrupted by others. For me, it was after my coffee and devotional time but before my kids were out of bed, from about 7:30-8:30am. Now, I either sit at my kitchen table working on my laptop (writing, planning lessons, or researching) or I organize a pile of paper clutter or drawer. I make a point to do things during this time that are mentally taxing and require concentration because this is often the only opportunity during my day when I am not frequently distracted and interrupted. Setting aside this time has made me much more efficient in these tasks.

Eat That Frog: 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

This final book was a great way to review the main concepts from the other books and provide a little extra motivation to make those desired changes immediately. It is very short and direct; a quick read to round out your daily habit reboot. Though this book is very much written for the workplace environment, all its concepts also apply to your personal life as well.

In addition, I feel it important to point out that it is not a Christian book. Occasionally it suggests prioritizing work over relationships and other similar ideas. However, you can easily just “agree to disagree” with these suggestions and apply the main concepts in more Christ-like ways. Its lack of Christian values does not discount its overall usefulness.

This book gave me some specific tools to start tackling those difficult or loathsome tasks instead of continually pushing them to the bottom of my To-Do List.

I’m sure there are other great books or resources out there for time management and habit training, but I can vouch for these 3–they all provided very specific, easily applicable suggestions for how to make simple changes that provide big rewards. Here are a few of the changes I’ve made personally because of these books:

Health – I’m walking more, increasing my step count, drinking more water, and cooking healthier meals more often.
Spiritual – I’m spending more time in Bible study and prayer and am more faithful in beginning my day with a devotional time.
Personal – I’m taking better care of myself, having more quiet time (which this introvert needs), and enjoying more time for doing what I want, like reading books. I’m even dressing better (getting out of my pajamas even when I’m home all day) and getting more sleep.
Work – I’ve found a rhythm for how to get focused work done during the time of day when I’m at my best (morning), so I’m accomplishing much more in less time.

Time is one of our most valuable possessions. Use it wisely. Remind ourselves often that things that matter most should not be left to the mercy of things that matter the least.
O. Leslie Stone

I pray you develop habits and manage your time in such a way that you are able to focus on those things that matter most.

The Peace That Surpasses All

I walked into church tonight with my body tense from anxiety. For weeks now, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and stressed…and for no good reason. Even though my mind knows I have nothing to fear and no reason for worry, my body seems to be in a constant state of panic. It’s amazing how we can know something in our heads and yet still struggle to let the idea take up residence in our hearts. Our actions sometimes are slow to respond to what our mind believes.

This has definitely been the case with me recently. I firmly believe…

God will equip me for everything He asks of me
Worrying is never helpful and God desires for us to trust Him with our needs
I am the Lord’s daughter, chosen, and beloved, and He delights in me even when I fail
His grace is sufficient for me!

I have no doubt that these statements are true. Yet I can’t always seem to get my heart to fully embrace these concepts and live like I believe them.

Today my sister reminded me that sometimes we have to do something more tangible to get ourselves to fully recognize what our head already knows. She suggested I say aloud some of these things so I could actually hear the words and experience them with my senses.

I did that, and it was amazing how much it helped. I went out on my porch and felt the cool breeze on my skin. I said a few of these reminders out loud and then I prayed audibly and fervently to the Lord to help me feel in my spirit His truth and wisdom. Clearly, if someone had walked up to my house at this moment, they might have thought I was a little crazy, visibly alone and yet talking out loud on my porch. But I didn’t care. It was exactly what I needed to do.

I believe God designed us to learn through our senses. We need reminders, rituals, ceremonies, celebrations, visual cues, and other tangible ways to experience and understand all He wants to teach us. So this verbal acknowledgement helped me internalize and feel what I already knew.

Unfortunately, I can’t say I was immediately free from all my anxiety. Like pesky lint that just won’t rub off, a few pieces of fear and worry held on tightly, no doubt attempts from Satan to steal my joy and rob me of peace. And to make matters worse, right before church, a situation arose with my oldest son that caused some extra tension. So when I walked into the church building tonight, I was still wrestling a bit with finding that “peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).” This promise from a scripture I have recited for years was in my head but still it felt just beyond my grasp.

Then we had a time of worship, and God so pointedly touched my heart while I sang the beautiful song “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher.

Lord I come, I confess
Bowing here, I find my rest
Without You, I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh I need You
Every hour, I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

As I sang this song, God filled my heart with such peace and joy. Admitting to the Lord that I need Him was so powerful, a beautiful reminder that I will find my rest only in Him, not in any other person or thing. As I professed to the Lord my dependence on Him, an image permeated my thoughts–a vision of me writing my worries on a paper, naming them, confessing them, and then handing that paper over to the Lord, literally placing it all in His hands.

When I got home tonight, I did this very thing. I quickly wrote out all the woes and responsibilities I had snatched from God and taken on as my own. Those things that swirled in my head but was afraid to actually say aloud, the fears I didn’t want to admit I had–I wrote those down too. Then I prayed and submitted all my fears and worries into my precious Savior’s hands. I folded the paper up and put it in my Bible on the page with the scripture of Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of god, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (NIV).”

On the one hand it seems like a silly ritual a child might do. On the other hand, this was an act of faith and a symbolic gesture that helped my heart and my mind connect.

I write all these things for two reasons. One, I want you to know that everyone struggles at times with worry and fear. There wouldn’t be so many scriptures about it otherwise! Even a person like me, who tends to seem all put together on the outside, has moments when I just can’t shake my doubts and live out my faith the way I know I should.

The second point is the most important…There is hope. Though you may occasionally journey into the land of anxiety, you don’t have to live there permanently. Trust God with your heart. Cast your cares on Him. Pray. Take time to acknowledge your fears and then lay them at the Lord’s feet.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace as you trust in Him.” ~Romans 15:13

What are we infecting people with?

Contagious, exposure, infect, spread…These words flood the news and social media, stirring up negative images in our minds and causing panic in society. But what if we turned this upside down and used these words in a positive light? What about all the good things that are contagious and can be spread through exposure?

Joy is contagious. Passion is easily spread. And a true appreciation for something can be developed simply through the right type of exposure.

It is amazing how much enthusiasm is contagious. When we are surrounded by someone who is passionate about a certain topic it, that excitement can easily infect us. A woman who is giddy about sharing her latest discovery during her personal Bible study time tends to ignite a desire in me to study God’s Word too. A friend who joyously serves others, even in the midst of personal trials, infects me with a passion for service as well.

What are we spreading in our homes and communities–joy, hope, and peace? Are we infecting people with a desire to study God’s Word and pray with conviction? Is our passion for knowing and following Jesus so bold that it’s contagious? Are we exposing people to such deep love that they are asking us where we caught our “bug?”

This morning I sat in my car listening to my teenage son share his knowledge and passion for cars. He pointed out a specific type of car (one I had never heard of) and noticed that the sound of the engine could still be heard even after the car was way past us. He mentioned that this car was one that many people would look at and think it is just ugly, not much of a car. But if you really knew about it, you would know how valuable this car was. True car enthusiasts desire this car and pay big money for it!

Everywhere we go my son will point out cars and tell me interesting factoids about them. I’ve never really noticed cars much before; usually my mind is filled with lots of other things while I’m driving. But since he has started sharing his love and appreciation for cars with me, I have started noticing them a little more than before. I will probably never develop his level of passion for cars, but he has helped me see cars in a new way.

It is like this in our relationships too. Sometimes others may not see God in their lives. They may be unaware of the vast ways He cares for them and provides for them. But when we are passionate about pointing to Him in all things, highlighting His glory, wisdom, and love in everything we see, the people around us will catch this enthusiasm. We should be exposing everyone we meet with the knowledge of Jesus, spreading the infection far and wide.

If we are going to spread our faith and share our love of God, we can’t quarantine ourselves away, separating ourselves from others. We can’t hide behind masks. We must be close and intimate with others. [And yes, I mean this figuratively, not literally.] We must take the time to learn about people, hear their stories, and understand where they come from. We must look deeper than just the appearance and characteristics that can be readily seen, and open our hearts and eyes to see more. True appreciation can only come when we force ourselves to stop and really see people. I encourage us all to take the time to notice the people around us and think more deeply about how we might connect more intimately with the people who God places in our paths.

Right now it’s easy to be hyper-focused on keeping our germs from others and not spreading COVID. But maybe instead, we can focus our hearts and minds on making our peace contagious, infecting people with faith in our Lord, and spreading love and joy to everyone we meet.

My book is now published!

Sister Talk: Experiencing God’s Love Through Christian Friendships is now available on Amazon as both a paperback and Kindle. This is an exciting moment for me personally, the fulfillment of a dream God placed in my heart a year ago. It’s been a wonderful adventure filled with so many ups and downs. It has been so fun to learn all about the publishing and writing world while also sharing my testimony with others. I pray this book will provide a beautiful example of the types of Christian friendships God has envisioned for us while also helping women feel loved and encouraged.

Click the link below to order a copy or download a free study guide.

For More Information

My Writing Journey

In about a week, my book, Sister Talk, is going to be available on Amazon. It seems unreal. Never in my life did I think I would be a published author.

I’ve daydreamed of being a famous singer. I’ve thought about creating my own math curriculum and imagined having a huge online math course business. To be honest, I have even desperately hoped to be Miss America (obviously in my younger years.) But not once did I have the dream of writing a book. That plan is all God’s. So let me tell you the story of how this book came into being.

About ten years ago, God started whispering in my ear that He wanted me to write. He didn’t say what or how or when or why. I just kept feeling Him urging me to write. I often put Him off, questioned Him, and flat out ignored Him. I would say, “I don’t know how!” or “What would I write?” or “I don’t have time.” Occasionally I would pull out a journal and write some things down, but I never fully embraced this calling. Ultimately, I allowed myself to believe I must have misheard God. Surely, He did not really mean for me to write a book.

You see, I am not a writer by occupation or even for recreation. Before beginning this book, I had written only a handful of things that were not for a school project—some notes for a few speeches and an occasional journal entry. Overall, writing has never been my hobby or love. I am a math teacher at heart. I received my undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Education and then my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. I have always had a passion for education.

However, God loves to use us in ways we never imagined. He delights in pulling us and stretching us beyond our abilities, all the while showing us how amazingly He equips us for whatever mission to which He calls us.

The title Sister to Sister echoed in my mind over the years. A few times, I chose to write a short blurb about my experiences with my sisters or how they had ministered to me. But I never put much effort into any of it. I was busy with life—kids, church, and other ministries. However, the COVID Pandemic of 2020 halted most activities. Everything slowed down, and, for the first time, I found myself bored, wondering what to do with myself.

One afternoon in August, I laid down on my couch and prayed for God to help me see how I should spend my extra time. “God, show me what You want me to do.” Ladies, I have never before heard God’s voice so clearly, “Get up and write a book about sisters!” Of course, this was not an audible voice or in a burning bush, like with Moses. However, it was unmistakable that the Holy Spirit was telling me what I should do. For the first time in all these years of hearing His gentle nudges, I knew I could not ignore God’s prompting any longer. Though this task was somewhat scary and intimidating, I was immediately filled with enthusiasm and a desire to share everything God has taught me about the Sister in Christ relationship. So . . . I got out my laptop, found those snippets of things I had written over the years, and started writing.

This last year has been a surprising and glorious adventure with my Lord.

At first, I didn’t have much of a plan. I just wrote. It was amazing how quickly it came. Within only a few days, I had written about 10,000 words. But then I hit a wall. I couldn’t think of anything else to write. I had scraps of paper with various ideas, sticky notes all over the place, and my mind was swirling with thoughts. Taking all these thoughts and ideas and forming them into a book seemed like an insurmountable task.

At one point, I talked with my sisters about it. They helped me think about how this book did not have to be a perfectly outlined and organized thesis paper, but more like a letter to a friend. That opened my mind up and helped me not worry so much about getting everything perfect. I just wrote letters to my Sisters in Christ, sharing my faith.

In September, I finished the very first draft of the book, about 17,800 words. I printed it and gave it to my sisters. I was elated. It felt like I imagine people feel when giving birth, like something they’ve waited for has finally happened. It felt like a sweet adventure that God and I had been on together. He had given me words that I didn’t even know were in me. I felt close to him, cared for by him, and proud of myself for being willing to do this with him. It was a little scary, but I knew it was right and good.

But that joy didn’t last. Satan quickly attacked my resolve and my confidence. I got distracted, overwhelmed, and depressed.

I had a lot to learn in how to write and self-publish a book. So many choices and so many different mountains to climb to get to the finish line. How do I create all the extra parts in a book–acknowledgments, introduction, endnotes? Do I need a preface? How do I format my book? How do I apply for a copyright license? It hasn’t been all fun and glamorous. At times, I felt overwhelmed by all that I didn’t know.

Often, when I would get stuck or stressed, I recognized that I was not spending enough time with God. So many times during this writing journey, I went to my porch, sat and looked out at the beautiful trees, listened to the birds, and just fervently prayed for God to give me wisdom, help, and comfort. These were not weak, general prayers. I talked with him about my concerns and openly confessed my frustrations at this whole process. I begged and pleaded with him. “God, I know you want me to do this, but I don’t know how. Show me. Help me. I can’t do this without you!” EVERY time I asked God for help, He provided more than I asked for.

I remember one time when I had been stuck on my introduction for days, and I walked back into the house after one such prayer and finished my introduction in a few hours. Another time, when I had written no words for weeks, I went inside and wrote about 5000 words that day. God has been faithful during this whole experience to guide me, help me, and equip me.

But just because God calls you to a mission or wants you to take a certain path doesn’t mean it will always be fun or easy. Sometimes it is just hard work! There were times when I realized I simply had to be obedient. Sometimes I didn’t want to write or do whatever editing task was at hand. But I had to practice self-discipline and make myself get out the laptop and work.

Sharing my work with others has been very humbling. It is like standing naked in front of someone and asking them if you are beautiful or worthy. My work is personal. It represents a very special moment between me and God and also a willingness for me to try something new. So if people don’t like it, it is disheartening. I know it shouldn’t matter to me, but it sometimes does. Throughout this process, I have had to pray a lot to focus not on other’s opinions but on God’s guidance.

After each round of editing, when I would share my book with beta readers and read their suggestions, critiques, and opinions, I was faced with a powerful decision. Whose voice will I listen to? Yes, God used these others to speak to me and give me wisdom, but I could not allow their comments to overshadow His words. In the end, I had to ask God which edits to keep and which edits to toss out the window.

I had to continually remind myself to write for an audience of ONE–my Lord–offering every word solely to Him.

As I look back on this experience, I am filled with abundant joy from all God has shown me of Himself during this past year.

God truly does give us the desires of our hearts. I never wanted to write a book, but the Lord placed that dream in my heart. He is a dream-maker who gives us dreams and hopes and desires beyond our own imagination.
God will equip us for whatever task he calls us to. We don’t have to worry that we don’t have what it takes–He does!
God is faithful. He wants to help us and provide for us. But sometimes He does wait for us to come to Him and ask. So I need to stop striving and trying to do everything on my own, and I must spend more time abiding.

I am so thankful He called me to do this task. At times it has been exhausting and stressful, but overall it has been an incredible, growing adventure.

God has an adventure he wants to take with each one of us. What path is He asking you to travel down? Will you follow Him? Take that leap of faith, the first step, and enjoy the journey with your Lord!

Book Release Coming Soon!

Sister Talk: Experiencing God’s Love Through Christian Friendships will be available on Amazon in a few weeks. I wrote this book to inspire and encourage women in their relationships with their Sisters in Christ. I share a lot about my personal testimony and many stories about how my biological sisters and other women have ministered to me over the years, providing me an example of how to show “sisterly” love to other women in my life. I am excited to share this book with you soon. It’s been the result of a beautiful writing adventure with my Lord this year!

Before You Move…Be Still

Do you ever feel stuck, trapped in your current environment?

When we are in the midst of challenging circumstances, it’s easy to be discontent, depressed, even miserable. Sometimes our situation can feel so unbearable we imagine we must be in the wrong place. How could living in God’s will be this painful?

We need relief and imagine it will only come if we move out of our present situation–quit a job, break up a relationship, join a different church, relocate to another city…

I’ve been there. I have been so desperate for change that I almost couldn’t breathe, like the air in my surroundings was sucking the life out of me. I’d cry out, “I can’t deal with this any longer!”

During one such moment, I remember making a bold decision that would have drastically changed my circumstances. After talking it over with some friends, I was determined to move forward with my action plan. However, as I drove home that evening, I kept hearing a voice in my head, emploring me to spend 100 days in prayer before taking any steps. Ugh! I did not want to wait. I needed relief NOW!

I had been praying over this decision for months, years. I had looked for God’s guidance in the pages of Scripture and had sought wise counsel from several Christian friends. I felt as though I had been patient, waiting for the Lord to show me what to do…and He had given me my answer…or had He?

Had I heard from the Lord or had I decided I was tired of waiting for him to relieve my frustrations?

“100 days of prayer” echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t push it away. I don’t know where that number came from; I don’t believe there’s anything special about the exact number. But I am convinced the Holy Spirit was speaking to me powerfully in my desperation, helping me recognize the importance of being still before the Lord long enough to discern his voice. So I vowed to do just that–put off taking any further action and simply lay this decision before the Lord for one hundred days.

Ladies, it did not take one hundred days for God to very clearly tell me, “No!” and show me a different path he wanted me to take. Almost immediately and daily, the Lord spoke to me in various ways–through the Bible study book I was already reading, songs on the radio, texts from friends, scriptures “magically” appearing on Facebook posts, and sermons that seemed to be written just for me. I heard from the Lord repeatedly and obviously that I should not move forward and simply wait on Him.

So I waited. Relief did not come immediately, but overwhelming peace did. My environment didn’t change much, but I did. As I waited on the Lord and trusted He would bless my obedience, I found ways to persevere, overcome, and see with a new perspective. Slowly my circumstances improved, and God brought healing, comfort, and relief to my situation.

Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still.”

If you are anxious to move, determined to step forward on a path, I encourage you to stop for a moment (or one hundred days) to be still. Let all the bustling of life fade to the background. Block out distractions. Stop moving so you can see where and how God is already acting in your life.

Listen. Wait. Watch.

I promise–the Lord will fight for you! Be still so you don’t miss it!

Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

Your Biggest Fan!

How a special needs baseball game opened my eyes to God’s view of me and others!

My son just started playing Miracle League baseball. Last weekend I watched his game and was filled with delight. The smile on his face as he batted and ran the bases was contagious. The other players were just as enjoyable to watch–so much enthusiasm and pure joy.

The players were a very diverse group of kids, ranging in ages from about 5 to 20 and having various physical and mental challenges. Some had amazing hits and seemed like they had been playing for years. Others could barely swing a bat. Some were able to run the bases unassisted, while others were in wheelchairs or needed guidance even to know where to go. But no matter what the skill of the player, all the spectators cheered loudly for each and every player. Every single time a player’s bat made contact with the ball, the crowd yelled in excitement. The cheering had nothing to do with the result of the hit; it was simply a way to encourage each player. Nobody criticized a player or told him how he needed to do something differently. No one was frustrated by a player who had to try ten times to hit the ball. There was no competition or division. (We didn’t even keep score.) A single mission unified the group of people who gathered at the field that day–to love and support those players as they did their very best to play baseball!

May be an image of 1 person, standing and text that says 'HOMER'

As my family and I watched and enjoyed this beautiful scene, my dad leaned over and said, “This is how God sees us.” Such true wisdom. God is not sitting on a throne in judgment, thinking about how we need to do things differently. He is not comparing us to others, thinking that we need to be like that other person over there. He is not expecting us to achieve a certain outcome.

God is simply delighted in us and is cheering for us. He is hopeful and encouraging. He is our biggest fan. God knows well our “disabilities,” and He is excited by our achievements, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. He knows how big they really are.

I think each one of us has moments or areas in our lives where we feel “disabled,” when we feel like we just can’t seem to achieve a result, master a skill, or conquer a problem. Often our best effort seems so far from success that we struggle to see any reason to cheer. We feel like that player who has just struck out.

We’re not only hard on ourselves but also hard on other people as well. We get frustrated with friends and family members who keep making the same mistakes. We become irritated because our expectations go unmet. And we kick people out of our lives and off our team simply because their “disability” is making our lives harder or keeping us from achieving a certain result.

In short, often we treat each other as if we are all professional major league baseball players who should be perfect. In reality, we are all players with various disabilities simply trying to make it through the next inning. If only we could see each other and ourselves how God sees us.

Friends, take a moment to imagine the scene I described at the Miracle League baseball game. Try to feel the warmth of camaraderie and encouragement and breathe in the air of complete joy. At the same time, push out of your mind the stress and frustration that comes with competition and expectations. Find a way to harness this feeling and live life in this beautiful place of unity, peace, and delight. Give yourself a break and applaud the efforts you are making, even if you’re not “hitting it out of the ballpark.” Give others a break as well, recognizing that they may be trying to overcome “disabilities” that you don’t even know exist in their lives.

Above all, recognize God’s complete love and delight in you. He knows you well and is never surprised by your achievements or failures. He sees you just as you are and cherishes you. Each time you “get up to bat,” He has a big smile on his face and is cheering for you. Keep this vision of God in your head and allow yourself to bask in the warmth of God’s love. He is your biggest fan!

It’s okay to take a nap!

Every one of us needs a moment to refresh our soul. I’m thankful God showed me one more scripture that reminds me it is okay to rest.

Some days I just want the world to stop so I can catch my breath. Some days I just feel tired and want a moment of peace. I know God wants me to rest and take care of myself, but it also seems there is so much to do.

The story of Mary and Martha has been used often to remind us all of the importance of not allowing chores to distract us from an opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet. Countless times, I have read the verse in Matthew 11:28 that says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (NLT).” There are numerous books out there about how to embrace the concept of the Sabbath and God’s plan for finding true rest in our lives. All of these are wonderful reminders to me.

However, I think God must have realized his message was not getting through to my stubborn head, and I needed one more example to cling to.

In today’s sermon, we looked at the scripture in Mark 4: 35-41 where Jesus calms the storm. I have read this story so many times in my life, but today one verse stood out boldly to me. Verse 38 says, “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion (NLT).”

Jesus took a nap in the middle of a huge storm!

I needed to hear that today. It seems the storms of life are often swirling around me, and it feels as if that must demand my constant attention. But it doesn’t. Even when we are in the midst of chaos and have a long list of “urgent” things to do, sometimes it is okay to take a break from it.

So today I took a nap. Yes, I had many things I should have or could have done. But I put them aside and rested, and later during the day I was able to more easily (and happily) conquer those tasks on my list.

I pray you, too, occasionally take a moment to take a nap and allow Jesus that sweet moment to refresh your soul!

Unburdened and Unstressed

It has been one month since I wrote my last post. Life has just been busy, nothing tragic, no huge life changes…simply a variety of unexpected events that have managed to turn my world topsy turvy for the last few weeks. Each week, as I looked at my To-Do list, I stared at the item that said, “write a blog post,” and my heart started beating fast. I was filled with guilt because I was not meeting an expectation I had created. I was overcome with anxiety because I didn’t know what to write. I was overwhelmed because I had no idea when or how I was going to get it done. There was simply too much to do and not enough time to do it. Here I was looking at what I considered a God-inspired mission, and I was feeling stressed about it.

Have you ever experienced a time like this, when you were burdened and anxious regarding something you knew should be quite the opposite?

Then I stopped! This is NOT what God has in mind for me (and it’s not what God has in mind for you either)! Our Lord is not a strict taskmaster. He does not desire for us to be anxious, overwhelmed, worried, or filled with shame. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. So one of two things is likely true in my situation if I feel those negative emotions–either what I am doing is NOT God’s will or how I am doing it isn’t.

I had to make myself pause in reflection and prayer and seek God’s direction…and I had to keep doing this multiple times throughout this month. What He kept whispering to me was, “Jennifer, give yourself a break.” For me, I believe it was the how that was the problem. I still felt God wanted me to continue doing this blog, but He kept reminding me that it is okay to take a break from it. It is okay to focus on other things at times. God wanted me to relax and enjoy and write when I was able. Over the last month, often after spending time with God, I would feel much better. I would lay this burden down at His feet and generally conclude that it was okay to postpone writing a post. In fact, He kept putting it on my heart that what He really wanted me to write about was just this–that we ALL need to give ourselves a break. Unfortunately, sometimes only days later, I would pick that burden right back up and start stressing again.

Years ago, in the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, I read an illustration that compared this to putting rocks in our wagon. [Please forgive me if I am not exact here. I don’t have the book to quote or reread, so I am going by memory.] Often we put rocks in our wagon that God has never asked us to carry. We weigh ourselves down in ways He never intended.

It is so much easier to see this when I am looking at someone else’s life. I am much better at helping others take the figurative “rocks” out of their wagons than I am at discarding the unnecessary ones out of my own wagon. Here’s an example from this last month…

A friend (and a fellow unit leader with me in American Heritage Girls) texted and said that she might not be able to make it to our next meeting. She was not feeling well yet was worried that she would be leaving me in a bind if she was not there. Here is the exact text I sent her on February 28:

“So sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. No stressing about any of the AHG stuff. God has been really speaking to me, reminding me that He doesn’t want us overwhelmed or anxious in our service. Yes, He wants us to work and serve. But He also wants us to rest. So I’m making sure I am not letting Satan steal the joy of my service by making me stressed about it. So you just focus on feeling better!”

Friends, how is it that it was so easy to write that text to her, and yet I still struggled to apply it to my situation with writing this blog post? I WAS letting Satan steal my joy in doing this blog. I was turning something God meant for good into an undesirable chore.

I am certain you have similar things in your own life. We all have service, missions, and callings that occasionally become just glaring items on a To-Do list. We all sometimes become burdened by things that God only intended to bless us. We all, at some point, lose focus and allow ourselves to stress or worry over something that isn’t worth it.

Here is the main message that God has been giving me, and I want to pass it on to you…

God wants you rested, joyful, unburdened, and worry-free. (Maybe that won’t be true in every moment of life, but it should be true in general.) His desires and plans for you are good and pleasing. So if you find yourself feeling anything else, take a moment to seek Him. Ask Him to show you a better way. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Give yourself a break. And definitely look in your wagon and throw out some “rocks” that are weighing you down that you know God didn’t plan for you to carry.

Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)

My prayer for you today is that you experience the unburdened joy that comes when you truly rest in Jesus!