Organizing the Inside – Day 190 Moderation Leads to Greater Success

March 11, 2012 at 4:30 pm · Filed under Encouragement, Inspiration, Organizing, Purpose, Simplicity, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Christianity, Rejoice in the Lord, Stress

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

4Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (KJV)

We don’t race as the world does
Quality has little to do with quantity and much more to do with execution. With our over ambitious schedules many of us are running on full throttle to pursue our dreams and get it all done. We seek new ways to save time and pay extra to get things done in half the time it used to take. Often this high pace makes us feel more like we are in a rat race; rather than in the race toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This kind of living is bound to catch up with us and cause problems. As Christian women who are in business and ministry it’s difficult to see the importance of slowing down. You can continue to carry out your goals, and produce quality work, both while putting less pressure on yourself to do more in less time.

High octane gas is costly
I’d be the first to admit that my high level intensified approach to productivity at times was really counterproductive. I often looked to achieve more, and do more than everyone else, just because I felt that quantity was directly related to quality. This was obviously one of those long believed untruths; you don’t even know you believe, until you slow down enough to examine the facts. Many Christian women like me have fallen into the trap of believing that speeding up will increase your productivity and help you reach your goal a lot faster. I am experiencing a renewed sense of freedom, having realized that I can slow my roll and still please God. I can go at this thing at a more moderate pace that actually supports and honors my values. Letting up a bit doesn’t hurt my commitment; it allows me to be true to the women God has called me to be. Wow, all that and the only thing I changed was to lessen my pace. These are just a few of the advantages of slowing down.

1. You can plan more strategically without all the stress of having to quickly plan things out.
2. You will be more successful in managing your schedule, because things tend to overlap a lot less.
3. You will be less prone to having to reroute tasks because of unexpected circumstances.
4. You will certainly enjoy the journey more by taking time to smell a few flowers along the way.
5. The quality of what you produce will likely improve based upon this simple adjustment.
6. You will likely make fewer mistakes, because you are allowing yourself time to do your best without the stress.
7. You will have a greater sense of well-being because your life will be in better balance with your values.

Consider slowing down
So instead of rushing through this wonderful journey of fulfilling God’s plan for your life, give yourself time to enjoy the scenery. I’m not suggesting you stop pressing and moving forward, by any means. I am however suggesting you allow yourself to take it all in. Stop running around from event to task to event, and never catching your breath in between. Getting organized on the inside is a very rewarding experience when it includes yielding to God’s pace for our hectic lives. No, He doesn’t want you to run around trying to do it all, have it all, and all in one day at that. The authentic woman promotes a life that includes quality time to pursue her dreams, but she also understands when her ambitions get in the way and no longer support her values. Take a moment to consider your pace; listen to the voice of God, and make sure you live your life in moderation.

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