Organizing the Inside – Day 156 Setting Limitations

February 6, 2012 at 11:00 am · Filed under Encouragement, Organizing, Simplicity, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Adam, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

9What do people really get for all their hard work? 10I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

Have you set limitations for yourself?
God set limitations for Adam in the Garden of Eden, because of His love for him. He gave him very specific instructions about what they should and should not do. The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—Genesis 2:15, 16

God is a God of order.
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…1 Corinthians 14:33 He wants us to establish limitations for the things we do. Certainly God gave us a great example of this by setting limitations for Himself. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. Genesis 2:13 Many hard working Christian woman who are overwhelmed with the cares of this life, have come to realize that having a full schedule is not the same as having a full life. The work until you drop mentality is not at all helpful when you are trying to live a balanced life that is pleasing to God. There is a time for resting and there is a time for working. For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I can’t believe it’s 2:00 a.m. already!
It’s important especially for those women who are entrepreneurs and ministry leaders to establish boundaries in their lives. Work and ministry often spill over into family time making it easy to pass on pizza night with the kids in order to put in a few more hours in front of the computer or plan your next lesson. Set limitations, or your strong work-ethic will kick in, and you’ll find you’ve worked late into the night without realizing it. We often unwittingly take Sundays to finish up a few quick tasks that we weren’t able to complete this past week. Most of us don’t have any flock stuck in a ditch, and are likely in need of the good rest God calls for. No wonder you find yourself exhausted and feeling worn out before Wednesday comes around. You never stopped working, you only shifted from one tasks to the next, likely without thinking about the consequences of not allow yourself time to rest.

Tomorrow is another day.
If you organize your schedule with set activities, and attach a timeline to each task you will establish more productive work habits.  Set limitations to each task on your “To Do” list. By setting time limitations and being more focused, you’ll also help put an end to procrastination. Give yourself a reward at the end of your day, for a job well done. If you’ve decided to stop working at six o’clock each evening, then make sure you hold off on that special treat until then.
Shut down the computer, turn off the lights and shift gears on time. Honoring your values and setting limitations are great ways to keep you from being overwhelmed. Have what really matters, by making the necessary adjustments now and stay organized on the inside and out.

 For only we who believe can enter His rest. Hebrews 4:3

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