SHOOTING OURSELVES DOWN
Photo courtesy of John Bell
The following is adapted from my Christmas devotional, The Perfect Gift, published by Our Daily Bread:
In 1956, a Navy F11 Tiger jet was struck by several rounds of ammunition and crashed. Later the pilot learned he had shot himself down. He was traveling so fast he outran the ammo he was firing.
Likewise, as we race through life at breakneck speed, we can easily shoot ourselves down. Meetings to attend, reports to finish, chores to be completed. Then the appliances mutiny, all breaking down at once. (I swear they’re in cahoots.) It’s only intensified as we enter the holidays—hanging lights, putting up the tree, running from store to store to find gifts your kids can’t live without. We’re busier than Santa on Christmas Eve, and we discarded “peace on earth” in line at Walmart.
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6–7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Face it. We’re never going to get all our stuff done. Important stuff. Our to-do lists only grow longer throughout the day. So it’s crucial to weave in times of quiet where we stop, breathe deeply, and sit in God’s presence.
Then at the beginning of each day, compose a to-do list, numbering your tasks in order of importance. Surrender the list to God and tackle #1 until it’s completed, or you’ve gone as far as you can. Then move on. A simple method, but it makes a world of difference.
Trying to do one more thing when we’re exhausted is a recipe for hypertension. But surrendering our lists to God in prayer brings peace that transcends understanding. Otherwise, you’ll shoot yourself down with your own ammo.
Ponder
• What specific aspect of the holidays do you find most stressful?
• How can you find peace by surrendering it to God?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Philippians 4:4–9.
Lord God, you are in charge of all things, including my time. Help me surrender my tasks to you and experience joy throughout the holidays.
(To read more, purchase The Perfect Gift, published by Our Daily Bread. You can order here: https://a.co/d/7Ho1vqm or directly from Our Daily Bread Publishing.)