Overextended? Pray and Plan

Overextended. When I did a search for this word in the 1828 Noah Webster American Dictionary of the English Language, it didn’t appear. But when I opened my New Oxford American Dictionary, 2001 edition there it was. The definition of overextended is to impose on (someone) an excessive burden of work or commitments.

Have you ever found yourself in this situation? I think many of us likely have. This is where I am now. The choice to take on multiple tasks was purely my own.

By taking on being on three simultaneous launch teams, editing my own work, cooking more due to diet changes, taking a quick trip for a weekend to handle something for one of our children, and just the daily things that have to be done, I’ve overextended myself a bit.

So how do I handle all this?  With prayer and a plan.

 

PRAY AND PLAN

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I couldn’t do all this without His help. I’m older now and things that once took me fifteen minutes now take half an hour to an hour. So, I definitely need to pray, and then plan.

 

• Priorities. There are things I must do daily. God comes first. Therefore, Bible study and time with Jesus go to the top of my list. Some days, it seems I fail miserably in doing this. I know He forgives me, but what about my spiritual well-being? When I don’t stay close, I risk satan showing up in all his ugliness. Spiritual warfare is real, as I’ve said in previous posts. See those here:    bit.ly/45IPwL6                          bit.ly/3RgOEZX

 

• Marriage. My husband and our home must come next. This doesn’t take a lot of effort as Hubby is eager and willing to take on any tasks I may need from shopping and cooking to reading my WIP and making notes about things he sees that just don’t work.

 

• Children. The son’s needs have to be near the top as, well … he’s, my child. One of four, yes, but he’s one of our most cherished gifts and we feel it is still our job as his parents to help all of our boys when they need us. This need is time-sensitive.

 

• Launch Teams. The launch teams I am on are run by two different ladies, but they are experts at what they do. They’ve each made our tasks doable and as easy as possible. Plus, they aren’t task masters looking over our shoulders. They tell us to do the best we can. Usually, they give us specific days so we know what we need to do ahead of time. That really helps.

 

• My Writing Work. But this blog post must go out, so I’m in here doing this now. It’s later than I like, but it is getting done. My own work, and edits on my work in progress (WIP) will come later this afternoon and into the evening. And that’s okay as I will have spent mealtime and prep for those with my husband. We will have done our Bible study and prayer time together. We pray together again over all the things on our hearts at each meal and at bedtime. So, time together has not been sacrificed. And my work is done, too.

 

Somehow, writing this rendered that first word powerless.  

Overextended?

Maybe, but it’s always manageable with prayer and His plan.

Blessings, y’all!

 

 

 

 

You know, the Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:9 (NASB) The mind of a person plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. When I pray and listen, I know God will reveal His plans for me and my life. His will be exceedingly better than mine. He always makes a way where there seems to be no way.