The Power to Prepare for a Busy Season

How do you prepare for a busy season? There are times when we realize we need to step back from some of our commitments because we sense ourselves getting overwhelmed with the busyness of it all.

There are also those times when even though we have a full schedule, there is still more to be done and no time to take a break. Sometimes that’s just the way it is. We’d like to say no, but in that busy season, we need to keep saying yes...at least for a little while.

In order to be ready for those busy seasons, we need to get our hearts and minds prepared. In the past, I’ve been known to say yes to things, but with the wrong attitude behind it. The yes that’s void of power and purpose.

My mouth says yes, but my heart stays in the no-zone. I start off with negative thinking, which makes the whole job seem impossible.

The Power to Prepare for a Busy Season

 No one is volunteering to help me. I guess I’m going to have to do it all myself - again.

I don’t know why I agreed to do this in the first place.

This is so much work, and I can’t get any help. What was I thinking? This will never work.

Do any of these thoughts sound familiar? What I’ve realized (or learned the hard way) is that those negative thoughts snuff out the power of the Holy Spirit that God makes available to us. My words speak failure instead of what God says about me. God says I’m…

 More than a conqueror.

Victorious.

Highly favored.

Blessed.

 In her book Anchored In, my friend Micah Maddox says this.

 “Once we change the way we look at the power in our lives, we will change the way we look at everything.”

Micah’s words have inspired me to reclaim the power God so freely gives to me. Yes, there are definitely times when we need to step back and let God refill us. But if you’re in a busy season when several things on your to-do list are happening at once, be encouraged. God is ready and willing to supply you with the power you need to persevere!

How to Prepare for a Busy Season

Sometimes the answer needs to be no. But when the answer is yes, don’t let it be a yes with grumbling and doubtful thinking. Let it be a yes, knowing God’s power is with us.

One of my favorite quotes from the Anchored book is this:

 “When our hearts are filled with God’s Word, God’s Word flows from our mouths. When we speak His words, we experience His power in our lives.”

Let’s speak God’s Word today over every commitment on our schedules, no matter how seemingly overwhelming they may be. Let’s remind ourselves that we are victorious in Him and renew our connection with His unending power.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

 For more information about Anchored In by Micah Maddox, click the image below.

Feeling Overloaded in Life? Here's How to Overflow with Hope Instead

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT

I wrote an article recently about helping our kids have hope. In the article, I quoted the verse above and talked about modeling a life overflowing with hope for our kids. If you’d like to read more about it, this link will take you there.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that it’s impossible to overflow with hope when your life is overloaded with tasks.

Feeling Overloaded in Life? Here's How to Overflow with Hope Instead

These past few months have been hard. Maybe you’re in the middle of a hard place too. We know life is full of struggles, but knowing doesn’t make it any easier. How do we stop feeling overwhelmed? When difficulties arise, are we filled with joy and peace so that we’re ready to walk through them?

Not if we’re running on overload.

In the post When Chaos Causes Me to Lose My Focus, I told you about my Saturdays, and how the jobs I put off until the weekend build and build until I feel buried under the weight of my to-do list.

Unfortunately, I haven’t done a very good job of managing my overloaded schedule. So when hard stuff hit like a tidal wave, it knocked me off my feet. The result? Overwhelm. Confusion. Discouragement. Frustration. I didn’t realize I’d filled my life so full that I hadn’t left room for God to fill me up with what I really needed.

• When we keep adding and adding to the schedule, overload results.

• When we take on more than we can handle, overload results.

• When we try to control everything and everyone, overload results.

But when we guard against filling our lives with more tasks to accomplish, our hearts are free to receive God’s joy and peace.

Joy and peace - the two things we need most in order to overflow with hope.

May I share an honest discovery with you? I’ve been writing about busy schedules and overwhelmed lives for a while, but I didn’t understand how damaging living on overload could be. Until now.

So I’m making a commitment today, and if you’ve been struggling with an overloaded life too, I invite you to join me.

I commit to free myself from a schedule that has me wrapped up so tightly, I’m in danger of suffocating. I am releasing unnecessary tasks to make room for God to fill me with all the joy and peace my heart can hold.

Are you with me? Then this declaration is for us. When life overwhelms you, may we all embrace His gifts of joy and peace. This way whenever the hard stuff happens, we will have everything we need to fight off confusion, discouragement, or frustration and overwhelm. We will have hope that pours out and soothes even the deepest hurts. Renewed hope begins here.