Counting vs. Resting

 

“Infinity divided by infinity is infinity.”
– Father Richard Rohr

Recently, during my prayer time, God revealed to me that I have a discontent heart. WHAT?! But I am grateful! I know I have it good. We have a roof over our head, we have healthy kids, we have jobs that we love and enjoy, we have a solid marriage. How am I discontent?!?

So I sat. I stopped focusing on my work to do list. I slowed down the family social calendar. I took a break from looking at Facebook. I wanted to hear what God was saying, so I minimized the distractions.

And I began to hear him loud and clear.

Proverbs 4: 25-27 – The Passion Translation

Set your gaze on the path before you.
With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.

Watch where you’re going!

Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you.

Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to

darkness.

Proverbs 13: 25 – The Passion Translation

The lovers of God will have more than enough,
But the wicked will always lack what they crave.

Even though I know deep down that I am blessed and that I have enough, I keep pushing for more. To do enough with my kids. To give enough. To build my business enough. To pray enough. To work toward seeing the next person receive healing in our office. Yet, in my doing, I forget to rest fully in all of the moments that I am experiencing.

And I know that I am not alone. It is a common struggle. To be present, to rest, to receive the moment, the day, the situation before us with a heart of gratitude and worship. By resting, we live a Proverbs 4 life. We are able to be aware of our surroundings, our cravings. Our steps are more careful. We notice those around us. Our hearts become open to help, to serve, to live life with those around us.

The world is going to bombard us these next weeks to continually check what we have, what we need, what we have left to accomplish on our to-do lists. However, as we count what we have or don’t have, we begin to count what others have and quickly fall into a comparison, and then envy, jealousy, and the circle to keep doing and accumulating begins to promote itself over and over.

May we remember that in God’s greatness and goodness we lack nothing, and need not try to earn love from Him. As we walk toward the holidays, let’s protect our hearts against counting and begin resting in God’s infinite love and provision.

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