Git 'R' Done

If you're like me, you probably define wisdom as not only having "smarts" but knowing how to apply those smarts.  That definition was really reworked for me last night in Bible study.  In the Greek it means discreet, temperate, self-controlled, sober, sober-minded, sensible, reasonable, wise, and orderly.  There is a lot more to this wisdom stuff than I thought.

As women under God's calling to live our lives as nothing short of godly we have many responsibilities and God wants us to apply wisdom to each area of our responsibilities.  And just what are those areas?  Taken from A Woman's High Calling by Elizabeth George, they are:

• Spiritual Life - loving God first and foremost.
• Family Life - loving and serving those at home ahead of others.
• Home Life - taking care of the place our loved ones live.
• Church Life - discovering, growing and using our spiritual gifts.
• Physical Life - making sure our body is fit and able to serve God and others.
• Social Life - time for friends and neighbors.
• Financial Life - being a wise steward of what God has given us.
• Mental Life - using our mind to grow and bring glory to God.

It's daunting, I know.  Believe me I sit here some days and feel completely overwhelmed by all the things that need doing.  I look at the lives of some Christian women I know and just thinking about all that they accomplish in a day makes me feel exhausted (and a bit like a failure, too), yet they never seem to slow down, are always on top of things, cheerful, and a joy to be around.  I fight a mighty battle with envy when faced with women who personify the Proverbs 31 woman and seem to live perfect lives with perfect families in perfect homes.  At least that's what I thought it was until I started to hear God whispering in my ear that maybe it's not that I am jealous of them, so much as it is I am feeling guilty for not applying myself to living the life God has planned for me.  Ouch!

Thank heavens our God is a god who knows our needs and our short-comings and has made plans for us to overcome them.   Each one of us desires in our deepest heart to trade the failures, chaos, and mere survival of this life for success, peace, and meaningful accomplishments.  The good news is that we can have that.  We must simply seek God's calling to wisdom and as we grow our "smarts" and learn how to apply them to those areas of our lives that concern God we will begin to see a transformation not only in our lives, but in the lives of our loved ones as they are affected and influenced by our choosing to live in godly wisdom.

I know it seems like so much more to do, but begin by weighing each thing you do against God's priorities (those areas listed above).  If something doesn't fit into those then it just doesn't matter in the long run.  Keep your eyes on the Lord, love him with all that you have, take care of things according to His priorities and He will take care of the rest.  You will have the time and energy to do it all.

"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative,

God provisions.  Don't worry about missing

out.  You'll find all your everyday human

concerns will be met."

~Matthew 6:33, The Message