I was feeling a little busy today but was reminded that there is a big difference between having a packed schedule and a busy heart.
Busy in the sense of carrying a lot in our hearts which perhaps we shouldn’t be or that isn’t beneficial to our overall well-being.
The problem is not being busy in life; Jesus himself had a hectic ministry schedule where people were pressing all around him, following him out into the desert to hear him, crowding into houses where he was, and barely leaving him alone for a second.
The problem arises when our hearts become full of stuff we are not meant to carry. Whether that's our own issues, hurts and fears or other all-consuming pursuits or people, we end up having no room for Him and what He has planned for us. No room to hold people in our hearts in love and prayer, or to govern over those things which heaven has assigned for us to be involved in. Jesus said, “I only do what my Father is doing and what He says.” (John 5:19) Jesus had absolute clarity in all He said and did because his life may have been busy, but His heart was not. One of the things we would all benefit from is taking heed of what God says about our hearts. Proverbs in the bible is a book of wisdom, and it teaches that we, “above all guard the affections of our heart, for they affect all that we are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23 TPT) Guarding or watching over our hearts means we are careful and diligent to keep our hearts uncluttered. We can all be like sponges absorbing and dwelling upon both our own experiences and relationships and/or other people’s issues, attitudes and pain. However, if we leave this absorption unchecked, we can quickly find our hearts full of things God never intended for us to be subjected to or carry around within us. The result is a busy heart which, even if we choose to still our bodies to rest, does not allow our hearts to be still. They have become busy, weighed down and cluttered with so many cares, thoughts and desires that we struggle to stop, hear God’s voice, and be still. Busy people get things done as long as they know how to rest regularly, but busy hearts limit what God can do in and through us. Have a busy schedule and make the most of your day and every opportunity, but take care to guard your heart with all diligence so that you don’t end up having a busy heart.
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25)
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Jesus said, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path……..The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13)
Prayer: Lord, thank you that every day is a fresh opportunity to live my best life and to experience and fulfil all that you have planned for me. Please help me to measure my schedule wisely so I can be busy but not stressed, but most of all, help me not to have a busy heart. In Jesus name Amen.