Why Prayer is Actually Good for Your Schedule
Busy
That's what most of us think of when we think of our schedules. We are a busy culture. We have so many options to fill our time, attention, and budget. I know for me, my weekends will sometimes book several months in advance. It's crazy!
If you are in sports or extracurriculars, you have to be so careful on how your time is filled up. Sometimes, all those practices and rehearsals can interfere with upcoming group projects or major exams. Sometimes, we want to help with clubs or ministry groups, so we commit to major weekly or monthly time blocks to serve.
All of these activities can be wonderful, but I want to propose you do something before you commit. Tell the person asking you, "Let me pray about it." Then do it!
Slow Down
There are seasons of life where the Lord wants us to slow down.
"But this I call to mind,and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him…" ~ Lamentations 3:21-28 (ESV)
These verses are set in the middle of a very dark season in this author's life. If you read around this chapter, both before and after, you see a distressed and despondent person, struggling to cope with life. However, in the middle of the chaos, he says, "The Lord is good to those who wait for him..."
Take some time to wait on God's leading about how to fill your schedule. Pray. Pray. Pray some more. God is so amazing, and He has a plan on how to share that with the world. Do you want to be distracted by busyness, or determined to be doing the work that He created for you to do?
Paul says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) Jesus already has a plan for how we should spend our time. The question is, am I ready to submit to that perfect plan, or continue to carry out my own for my own desires? It's a question that deserves some time and thought.
Jesus may want you to start a Christian club on campus or meet with friends for coffee once a week to encourage each other to live a godly life. Do you have the time?
If you pray about it and obey God's leading, you can rest assure that He will take you along on His perfect plan.
Reorder
Sometimes after I pray, I may need to back out of some commitments. I'm not going to lie, that can be awkward and uncomfortable. But I would rather get disapproval from the team/group leader than not do what God has "prepared beforehand" for me to do. I would rather be in His will.
Sometimes after praying, I have a firm yes to something that might be scary or seem overwhelming. However, in my experience, whatever the Lord is asking you to do, He will always be there with you to help and guide you. Just go read Exodus 3-4. Moses was scared to go lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He gave several reasons to God why he should not be the one to do this very hard and difficult task. Yet, each time Moses protested, the Lord gave Him an assurance. Be assured that God will also be with you in every task He wants you to complete for His glory!
Rest
Now that you have prayed about your commitments and maybe reordered them to honor what God has prepared beforehand for you to do, rest in Him. You and I do not need to feel overwhelmed by our schedules. We just need to trust that He will be with us in every step along the way.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." ~ Psalm 119:105
Let God light your way. Trust Him. Serve Him. Enjoy His presence and His purpose. Live intentionally and shine brilliantly!!