SOAP: I’ve been busy and yet lazy

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:18

Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.

Observation: Being lazy brings destruction

Application: I’ve been going through The Power of a Praying Wife to use as a guide in my devotional/ SOAP time lately and finding many ways to pray for my husband. This verse, however, stuck out for me today.

Wishing things would get done is not going to make them get done. Doing them is going to get them done.

I have been feeling extra overwhelmed lately and frustrated in not getting the things done around the house that I would like to have done.

I think my frustration is rooted in the fact that there are many things I simply don’t want to do, so I put them off, find other “important” things to do and then get frustrated because things are a mess.

No, I’m not being completely lazy and I’m certainly not idle, but laziness and idleness don’t have to mean just sitting around. You can be busy and yet lazy and idle when it comes to what really needs to get done.

I think that is part of my problem lately.

I’ve been placing ancillary things in a position of importance and then getting frustrated about getting the basics done.

Well, I’m heading back to the basics for awhile so I can work my out of this place of frustration.

Over the next few weeks I’m planning to really take a look at what I do with my time and honestly try to cut back where I can.

I’ve been praying about this for years, but now I think I am finally listening.

Prayer: Lord, please keep me from laziness and idleness on the important things. Help me to see what to cut back (or cut out) and where I should put my efforts. Thank you for revealing the things you have already revealed. Please guide me in staying strong and really releasing them for the time they need to be released. And guide me in replacing those activities with genuine needs, not more ancillary activity. Thank you, Lord, for placing this verse in my path today. I really needed to hear it.

PS  I am cutting back on my blogging for a bit.

At the beginning of the summer I set many of the Boredom Blasters to post throughout the summer (but not all, as you might have been able to tell lately) and those will continue to post.

Other than that, my blogging will primarily be just my daily SOAP discoveries and Power of a Praying Wife observations for awhile while I return to the basics. I have a bit of cycling ahead, too, and since I often feel so close to God in my longer rides, I will likely post about that as I feel led, too. Basically I will use this to share my relationship with God for awhile, but little else.

Posting my SOAP entries has been a very good thing for me. Thinking about and posting many of the other entries has often taken away time and efforts from other things which need more focus, though.

I have so many posts buzzing around in my head, but I need to set them aside for a bit, release myself from the implied obligation here and focus on the core stuff for awhile.

I hope you’ll understand.

I think God has big plans for me… and for all of us.

I need to listen to his guidance and get my basics done so I can better serve him and my family in joy.

And the only way I’m going to get my basics done is if I cut back on the ancillaries and re-evaluate.

Please pray for me, if you would. This could be tough. But I know it is needed.  And if I can pray for you, please let me know.


Comments

3 responses to “SOAP: I’ve been busy and yet lazy”

  1. I will be praying for you as well. It’s so hard to find true balance. And it seems like you have a plan to do just that. Going back to the basics helps too.

    I think God is going to do wonderful things as you seek to place Him first and re-arrange your time to meet the needs of your family and your home.
    .-= Monica @ DailyDwelling´s last blog ..Mommy Playdate Cards =-.

  2. I will be praying for you, and I completely understand. I have been struggling with this as well.

    If you would pray for me as I continue on my journey to serve my family in a joyful manner, it would be greatly appreciated!

    You’re right-it is very tough, but so worth it in the end.
    .-= Christy´s last blog ..Dental Woes =-.

  3. I’m there with you!! For months God has been working on this with me… blogging and other online stuff had gotten out of hand for me, and I’ve had to do some serious schedule re-arranging!

    Hence my post this week about Proverbs 31 – my priorities were way out of whack! I hadn’t said anything to my husband about it, but a couple of weeks ago he commented that I’ve been staying on top of the housework a lot more lately. ;)
    .-= Kristi_runwatch´s last blog ..This Week’s Backpack Scenario =-.

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