I’m trying to hold my head above water. I can barely breathe. I’m suffocated from the stuff of life, the clutter of too-much. Too many obligations. Too many expectations and way too much stuff.

And nearly all of it is my own fault.

How do I survive?

Can you relate? Do you ever feel the same way I do?

In my typical all or nothing way, my first temptation is to go drastic. Take a week (or month!) off work and pitch everything into the donation pile. Clear my calendar by quitting all my jobs and ministries and become a hermit.

However tempting burning down my own life and starting with a clean slate is, it’s not very practical.

Unfortunately, the answer I’ve found so far is … start slow. (Don’t you hate that?)

The Only Thing that Helps

Of course, I don’t have the victory over this problem yet. What I’m learning is this: the only thing that helps me is being a Mary.

In the biblical story of Martha and Mary, we have two sisters. One is energetic, the hostess with the mostest, and she wanted everyone to be productive and work. Mary was the sister who was so drawn to Jesus, she ignored the work and spent her time sitting at the feet of Jesus.

“Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

Luke 10:41-42 TPT

Use Available Resources

I’m finding being a Mary at least twice a day is helping. I’ve been both starting and ending my day recently using the Lectio 365 app. Of course, you don’t have to have an app to do this; but it really helps me to be guided in praying, hearing scripture (not just reading it), and hearing someone’s else’s thoughts on what was read to me. I also use the Pause app that does basically the same thing.

These are just tools to help me slow down and listen to the voice of God telling me He loves me. He will provide for me. I don’t need more things; I need more of Him. It’s not important to be productive every moment of my life. Yes, He has things for me to do, but He will help me. He will equip for each thing He calls me to do.

It’s not all up to me, and that realization helps me survive.

It. Is. Not. All. Up. To. Me.

Hey! I’m on a journey. I don’t pretend I’m doing all this perfectly. I’m sharing the goals and dreams I have in my heart in this series, “A Rich and Satisfying Life.”  This is my nineteenth post of examining a life free from the clutter of both wrong thoughts, attitudes, expectations, and too-full calendars, as well as physical clutter. You can click here to see all the links to the series.

This series is part of a Write28Days challenge sponsored by Anita Ojeda. The challenge is now over, but I am still working at the goal of writing 28 times on my subject.

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.

So excited to announce this post was featured at Richella Parham’s Grace at Home!

I’m linking this post to the communities at Grace & Truth, Inspire Me Monday, Remember Me Monday, Tell His Story, InstaEncouragements Link-Up, Tune In Thursday, Grace at Home

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