Fret much? I do. I’ve been more a hummingbird than a Robin since I signed my publishing contract, hovering over everything I must do and haven’t done, beating my wings frantically but not moving outside my figure-eight path: Little people. Edits. New synopsis. Hubby. Social media. Church. Work in progress. Homeschooling. Anything that alters my route —maintaining the summer reading log, buying dog food, a doctor’s appointment—throws a wrench in the works. Planning my cover reveal?! Talk about heart palpitations, enough to make a hummingbird keel over.
But Sunday, Pastor Jason shed a different perspective on all my flitting and fluttering. Sure, deadlines must be met, books must be written, little people must be fed, but my attitude…? That, my fellow feathered friends, must be changed. So, when I consider my list of to-dos, five words comprise the list:
Find out what pleases God.
It’s that simple. Just in case I needed a little help, he gave some guidelines:
Have faith. Hebrews 11:6
Be just, merciful, and humble. Micah 6:8
Praise God in every circumstance, especially, when I don’t want to. Hebrews 13:15, 16
Spend time with God. Luke 10:41, 42
That’s it. And guess what? Fretting isn’t on the list. Neither is fussing, complaining, whining, anger, fear, or even busyness, my all-encompassing reason for not enjoying my blessings, not investing in people, work, and activities that matter.
When I seek to please God, I employ faith, trusting Him to hold me aloft, to take me farther and higher than I could ever go on my own strength or caloric intake. While I’m reaching higher heights in whatever role God gives me, I continue serving my family and others in humility and gratitude, extending mercy and justice, forgiving those who’ve hurt or rejected me or just plain stressed me out. And in those difficulties, in the face of failure or doubt, when I don’t know which is the “next thing,” what need is most pressing, or which fire to put out…I will praise and thank God. Though I can’t do or know everything, I serve a God who knows all and who does all things well—what I’ve learned by spending time with Him. He is my source and my resource whether I’m tending to booboos or signing books.
So, by focusing on those five words—Find out what pleases God—I can not only put an end to my hovering and fluttering, I can fly. Soar. Because I’m not a hummingbird.
God designed me to be an eagle.
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Oh, Robin, what a blessing you are. Seems God always uses your words to re-focus my thoughts. I’ve been doing a lot of mental flitting (and even without intending to ~ a bit of fretting). And with all the undone-things-needing-doing waving for my attention, I’ve been trying to train myself to ask God what to do next and rest in knowing He will carry what I cannot. I like Pastor Jason’s simple guidelines. Thanks for sharing them.
Your cover is so inviting! Congratulations (again), sister!
I’d fretted over this post—and many other things—for a long time until God tapped me on the shoulder Sunday. I’m so glad He used me to encourage you. Many thanks for the love!
Encouraging reminder “for the birds”… All us birds! ❤ you!
Tweet, tweet!
<3 you!
Your words touched my soul. ——-> Find out what pleases God.
Thanks, Susan! His lesson was so simple, yet so powerful.