I am often asked, “How do you do it all?”
“It all” must be subjective, because I usually laugh when asked. At the end of the day, there is always something on my “Didn’t get this done—try again tomorrow” list. And usually, it is an ever-growing list, constantly being reprioritized.
The truth is, that often stems from my own poor expectations and focus. My priorities should be abiding in Christ, keeping my eyes fixed on Him, in the strength of Christ and with the guidance of Holy Spirit. In Him is my only hope. In Him is where I find liberty.
True liberty. The freedom that comes only from turning to God and, in Christ, having the veil lifted from my heart (2 Corinthians 3:16). I am a daughter of God, covered by the blood of Christ and being sanctified by Him – a sanctification in perpetual motion.
Surrender. Letting go of control. TRUE LIBERTY.
The Greek word for liberty in 2 Corinthians 3:17 is eleutheria, Biblically meaning “living as we should, not as we please” (BLB). In a world that touts the need for everyone to live to their heart’s desire and do as they please, that doesn’t sound like “true” freedom. It sounds foolish.
Yet IN CHRIST, it is the most carefree liberty, because I am not required to be in control. I must simply obey His words. I don’t have to figure out how I am to act or where to aim. I KNOW where to aim, and I KNOW where to find acceptable acts.
“Aim small, miss small.”
It’s a saying I’d not heard until The Patriot. It lodged itself into a dusty corner of my brain, reemerging while I was describing to my children how we are to allow Holy Spirit to take control and guide us to the mark—the narrow path of Christ.
It was a lesson in the reality that there are MANY opportunities to hit the mark in the world…the dart board of life. The board is large, but the bullseye is small.
We are to be aiming for the bullseye: the temper and tendency of Christ; a reflection of the glory of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
And it does not matter how hard I try to get through my day, or how much I strive to “keep positive thoughts.” Those are actions in my own strength, with my own control. They often result in missing the mark, even by a little.
But releasing that control, acknowledging my weakness, I hand over me—a dart—and allow Holy Spirit to literally guide me to the truth of Christ: who He is, how He acts, His glory. Becoming a mirror reflecting the Lord, not me.
There is no way I can get through a day…
Hold up.
There is truly no way to get through a moment without Holy Spirit taking control. I will mess up the trajectory as soon as I try to go on my own.
So, back to the beginning—how do I do it all?
I don’t.
If “all” I do is wake up, spend time soaking up God’s Word, turn my day over to Holy Spirit, and constantly give control back to Him as I mother and train up my children throughout the day, knowing I am in the constant sight of God… (seek His kingdom and all these things shall be added – Matthew 6:33)
It is enough.