“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing” wrote Steven Covey, in his popular book – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
If not for those wise words and, more importantly, how they have resonated with God’s faithful, gracious, tender care and guidance in what has been a most stressful and demanding few months, I might be apologising for not sending this earlier (I had hoped it would go out on or around 1st July!)
Not that I have been attempting to be ‘highly effective’. I’ve simply been trying to keep threats at bay, long-standing problems moving forward to resolution, support family and friends, and meet writing and speaking deadlines. On that latter point, I sadly had to let go of a number of commitments and opportunities as the disruptive interruptions of “life” made it difficult to even keep up with previously commissioned work.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a pity-party. It is a warm invitation, and if needed, loving permission, to consider what ‘keeping the main thing’ might be for this season of your life too.
Whatever kind of day we are having, and whatever pressures, distractions, temptations or sorrows we may face and endure for any prolonged period of time, Jesus points us to the ‘main thing’ to focus on through His creative combination of two instructions found in Deuteronomy and Leviticus.
Here are a few thoughts to ponder as we dwell with His words in the coming weeks:
– How can I make time and space to be alone to love and be loved by God? Where might that be, what does that look like, and how realistic am I being?
– Could I make more of opportune moments to pause to be present to His presence through my day, be that while boiling a kettle, waiting at the school gate, or between one task and another?
– How intentional am I in loving God through my behaviour, attitudes, words, lifestyle choices, use of resources….?
– Do I simply need to dwell with God’s love for me for a while, to inspire my loving response?
– Whether my day is full or mundane, busy or lonely, stressful or peaceful, what does it look like to love others – every individual I am in contact with in person or online?
– Who or what most often distracts, dissuades or discourages me from choosing to love others as God loves them – and as God loves me? How does ‘keeping the main thing the main thing’ speak into that?
– Am I putting extra pressure on myself by trying to do things I want to do or fulfil other people’s expectations, instead of remaining within the boundaries of life that Jesus has called and equipped me to inhabit (note Matthew 11:28-30)?
– Do I need to hear and respond to Jesus’ invitation to stop and rest for an hour or a day, or perhaps even longer? (Mark 6:31)
– Is there anything I am being invited to ‘park’ for a season, to help me ‘keep the main thing the main thing’? (eg. I took a break from social media and delayed preparing this post)
As you mull on Jesus’ ‘main thing’ this season, may you know peace, comfort, reassurance, guidance and contentment, as He continues to nourish and transform you with His Life.