GETTING THINGS DONE GOD'S WAY

Focus is the key to getting things done successfully. Why does it take some of us so long to learn that lesson? Jesus makes it clear that when we focus on Him, on His kingdom and His righteousness, we don’t have to worry about leaving things undone. He will see to it we accomplish what’s most important.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES        by Sally Bair

A productive day

A recent article listed things that contribute toward daily productivity. The article touts the health value of starting the day with exercise, a glass of lemon water and a good breakfast—all of which increase our energy.

Besides setting daily goals, we’re advised to perform the hardest, most disagreeable tasks first, when our energy level is at its peak. If we save our worst jobs until later, we may end up avoiding  them or struggling to finish them.  

From experience, I know that goal-setting keeps me from multi-tasking, a habit many of us should avoid. In fact, a neuroscience professor at MIT discovered that our brain is not designed to focus on more than one task at a time. For instance, driving and texting can lead to disaster on the road. We can learn, however, to change our focus with lightning speed when necessary. We can learn to combine reading and watching TV, but we’ll end up with diminished concentration—and limited productivity.

 We’re wise to focus first on the most important task of the day, forgetting about the secondary items until later. But is that possible for a mother of two toddlers? For a soldier in the heat of battle? A supervisor responsible for dozens of employees?

When we find ourselves overwhelmed with too many things to do, our minds tend to go into worry mode. Worry, after all, equals stress which equals frayed emotions which equals less productivity.

God has given us the ability to adapt to sudden change. He has also given us the means to do so with optimum results. He knows the problems we face, our need for quick adaptability. Jesus knew how tough life was for the grape growers and the shepherds and the fishermen. When He spoke to the multitudes from a hillside, He addressed their concerns.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? … But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25, 33-34)

Thank You, Lord, for caring about us even more than You care about the birds of the air and lilies of the field that You also value. We trust in Your provision daily. We say goodbye to our worries and hello to a more productive day. In Jesus’ name, amen.