STOP!!!!!!

When do you look forward to RECHARGING and RESETTING? When?

You see we are in times where it is increasingly difficult to take time out to recharge and reset. The information, activities, entertainment, offers, things to do, people depending on us, in addition to the usual looooooooong list of responsibilities, literally NEVER STOPS!

My sista we, and I say we, have got to stop wearing busyness, stress and exhaustion like a badge of honour. We have got to stop being perfectionists and martyrs!!! We have got to stop trying to do and be what and who God did not intend for us to do and be. We have simply got to STOP!!!

You know exactly what I mean.

So when do we stop to REST?

One of the things we take from the Christmas and New Year holidays and into the new year is EXHAUSTION! Oh yes! You know exactly what I mean don’t you? We do aaaaaallllllll the things - shop, clean, wash, cook, bake, entertain and be entertained - all while having loooooong days and short nights.

But then after New Year there’s ‘back to school’. Then it’s time to plan for the year ahead.

Then we have to ramp up the side hustle in order to make the money to pay the credit card bill we ran up over the holidays, and meet all the other many expenses. We have to attend the classes and do the hours of study necessary to upgrade our qualifications to position ourselves to climb the corporate ladder and get ‘better pay’.

We ever and always have to be pursuing ALL the many BIG goals we set for the new year and for our lives.

Here’s what our loving heavenly Father, God says to us Sistas:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

“Cast all your cares upon me. I care for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

“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)

So no! We do NOT have to constantly and relentlessly chase after our goals.

We are NOT supposed to be the ALWAYS immaculately organized, highly efficient, multi-talented, ‘got-it-all-together’: wife, mother, daughter, employee, employer, business owner, neighbour, friend, church committee member, etc. etc. etc.

Really? we’re not???

So how then will we realize our Vision?

Didn’t God also say that faith without works is dead?

Of course He did, but remember the verses above? Does this seem to be a contradiction? No, it’s not. We have to work, but this is exactly why we MUST recharge and reset from time to time. When we don’t, we get depleted and cannot finish what we started without doing it to our detriment.

God tells us in Psalm 127:2 that “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

Here is how we STOP:

S - SELF CARE: every day do things that energize you and make you feel good

T - TIME: spend time with God, alone quietly meditating, thinking, reflecting, reading

O - ONE DAY: Routinely set aside one day of no work - sleeping, relaxing, and resting your body and mind

P - PRAYER: ask God to help you. He is our source. He is our strength. He will enable us to get through what we need to without sacrificing sleep and rest. When we go to God our “Shepherd” in prayer, He “renews our strength”. (Psalm 23:3).

Another important way to STOP is by getting help from others. God has also given us the gift of community. We are reminded in Ecclesiastes 4:12, that “though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

YOUR WEEKEND RESET TIP

for this week is to seek out community for support, accountability, friendship and practical help. Take advantage of my FREE consultation HERE for help and to find out more about my RECHARGE & RESET Community of women where you get to network with other like-minded women, monthly group coaching, master classes and much more resources.

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