Biweekly Bits #20: Sometimes, you have to say no

After writing 26 bits, I realized that there is so much I could elaborate on with each of my bits. So I decided to turn them into a biweekly (i.e. fortnightly) series, for the next year.

Sometimes, you have to say no. My mother always used to tell me when I was younger that I didn't know how to say no. As a consequence, I was always too busy, and my time was over-committed, so much so that I'd catch a cold and be sick for weeks because I didn't have time to get better. But gradually, I've learned to say no (or at least, "not right now"), because I don't have time to do all these things and do them well. (See also #10).

The Christian walk, in addition to being a relationship with Christ and a religious practice is a call to serve others. Thus, as Christians, Christian women in particular, we often feel like we can never say no to others who need our help, and we end up over-extending ourselves. (Anybody else feel that way?)

However, we forget that while Christ calls us to take up our cross, and to go into all the world, and to love others as He has loved us, he has also called us to find rest in Him. Yes, my friend, there is a place in Christ for his followers to take rest. And in order to rest, sometimes, you need to say no to all of the various things that pull us in seventeen different directions simultaneously.

Saying no doesn't mean that you aren't committed to your ministry, and it doesn't mean that you are not committed to Jesus. To take time to rest does not mean that you are failing in your walk with God. Instead saying no means that you recognize your limits as a person, and the necessity of taking rest in Jesus, and taking time to spend in solitude with Him, and/or to take proper care of the body that God has given to you. Just like we rest a part of our physical bodies that have been working constantly, as part of the body of Christ, we also need to feel free to take time to rest and recharge.

Sometimes you have no. Because you don't have the time, or you don't have the energy, or you don't have the expertise. Maybe the timing is just all wrong. And that's okay. Don't let having to say no to someone make you feel like you've done something wrong, even if they try to make you feel guilty about it. Pray for the grace and the discernment to know when (and how) to say no, because sometimes, you have to. Remember that even Jesus withdrew from the crowds at times to rest and recharge.

Do you have instances where you've had to say no? Share them in the comments below, if you would like to!

Be blessed and say no sometimes!

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Hymn-ful Sundays! "We Have an Anchor"

This week's hymn is by another female hymnwriter! Priscilla Jane Owens was a 19th century American teacher, who wrote many hymns for the Sunday School students that she taught. This hymn is one of her best-known ones.

He Restores my Soul

Recently these words from Psalm 23 have been on repeat in my mind. I hadn't even read the psalm recently, when the words started to play in my head. They just popped in there one day, over and over: "He restores my soul. He restores my soul. He restores my soul." 

Perhaps the reason for me hearing these words was because my soul needed to be restored. It was a high-stress time of year of me, and I was tired and frustrated. Yet somehow, just hearing those words from Psalm 23 was calming, comforting. They were a gentle breeze blowing across the dry plains of my soul.

He restores my soul.

What does that even mean?

A few weeks ago I finished reading John Ortberg's most recent book called Soul Keeping. (I reviewed it here if you want to read about it.) One of the points he made was that the soul needs to be with God. In reflecting on "He restores my soul" in that context, I got greater clarity. Yes, my soul needs to be with God, because He is its source. If my soul were an electronic device, God would be both its battery and its charger. 

My soul is restored as I spend time with God, and as I make that my focus.

And how is my soul restored? How is my soul "with God"?

• It is revived through reading God's word
• It is replenished in reflecting on God's word after I have read it
• It is rejuvenated through communication with God through prayer
• It is re-energized by moments spent worshiping God

This is where my restoration happens. These are the ways that my soul fulfills its need to be with God. This is how He restores my soul.

This restoration is two-fold, it is both active and passive. Passively, just being in the presence of God is refreshing and replenishing to my tired and world-weary soul. Actively, seeking after the presence of God, seeking His face, provides the restoration that my soul needs to continue on this journey of life.

He restores my soul tells me that I don't have the strength to sustain myself throughout this life, and that I don't have to. He restores my soul because I am dependent on Him as my source. He restores my soul, for He is strong where I am weak, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness. He restores my soul as I walk with Him, so that I am encouraged to continue walking with Him.

Yes, my soul needs to be with God, for He restores my soul.

Be blessed and shine as God restores your soul!

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Hymn-ful Sundays "It is Well"

This hymn and the story behind it are so powerful. Horatio Spafford was a lawyer who lived in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In a four-year span, his life was turned completely upside down. He lost his only son in 1870, then in 1871, the Great Chicago fire burned down the city, and he lost most of his assets. Finally in 1873, he sent his wife and daughters to England on holiday, only to receive a telegram from his wife saying "saved alone." The boat that they were on had gotten caught in a storm, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. As he sailed to England to join his wife, he penned this hymn when the ship passed over the spot where the boat carrying his family had sunk.

Review: Soul Keeping

Hello everyone!

I had the privilege of receiving an advanced reader copy (ARC) of John Ortberg's new book "Soul Keeping" (April 22, 2014; Zondervan) through Bible Gateway's Blogger Grid. I was fortunate enough to be one of only ten bloggers who received the ARC to review. (yay!) You may purchase the book here or here. (It was just released today!)