As I sat down to read Matthew 5 I felt overwhelmed. There is so much in this chapter how do I touch on only a few words? So I prayed “Lord help me grab hold of what you want me to zero in on.” I then read the chapter and I knew.

For those who know me, you know that I am a pretty busy person. I don’t sit still very well. Growing up I was taught that it was a bad thing. “If you would just sit still you could…understand, learn, do better!” I was taught that I was different, broken and not like the other “good” kids. It wasn’t until I was in my mid 30’s that I understood that I was just as my Father wanted me to be. I was created with purpose and design. What a breakthrough that was. I felt liberated until the next lesson came.

Busy people say, “yes” a lot. A sweet friend told me, in love that I should say “no” more often. But that is not who God made me to be. But I did listen to that sweet friend who told me this and realized what I needed to change was how I was doing things, mostly in my own strength. Another game-changer! Matthew 5:3 says, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” I needed Him! If I was operating in my own strength I would become overwhelmed and self-critical. God designed my to have the ability to be busy and to find joy in it but even more importantly he designed me to need Him. I have a new prayer, “ Lord help me do no more and no less than what you have called me to do.” With this new prayer I have peace and a closer relationship with my savior. They only way I can hear Him is if I listen. This requires me to stop before I go, but brings me so much peace and joy.