How to Trade Your Daily Chaos for a More Peaceful, Orderly Life
Life just IS chaotic. However we, with God’s help, can make it more orderly, calm and ON PURPOSE.
Each morning we wake up and it’s back to the rush, the daily grind, the push to make each moment count. Whether you are getting kids ready, rushing to fit in that workout or attempting to absorb a few scriptures before you run out the door, the push and chaos of daily living is waiting for us the moment we turn off the alarm and our feet touch the floor.
As women in particular, in our modern times, you might feel especially rushed and chaotic.
Not only are you attending to your own needs, but the needs of possibly a spouse, children, loved ones, an employer (plus the myriad of people and tasks waiting your response). Not only do we have the daily responsibilities of life like cooking, cleaning, and loving our families well, we also have the constant DING! by way of text, email and app notifications.
LIFE IS LOUD.
Is there a way for us to escape the never-ending chaos of daily living and instead live a more peaceful, orderly life? A life that is truly ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE?
YES, there is! It’s going to take some intentionality on your part, but it is possible. I’ve learned some strategies that have worked for me, and I would like to share them with you here.
Tip 1: Start Daily with the SOURCE.
As a Christian, my allegiance, even above my husband, children and the distraction device in my pocket, is solely reserved for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I must start my day with Him every. single. day.
Trust me, I’ve spent many days, months and years of my life NOT starting with him, and I have the pain, confusion and sadness to show for it.
When God finally turned up the volume loud enough in my soul to the pain and confusion I was experiencing, I finally saw my excuse of lack of time in His word as the terrible sin of pride and selfishness that I was exhibiting.
It was then, when I saw my sin clearly, that I decided to become intentional with my prayer and Bible Time.
For me, this is no longer something that is a “nice to do when I have time.”
This is something that is required for me to know how to show up and how to gear up for the day ahead.
Remember, you don’t know how your day is going to pan out when you wake up. You don’t know who you will meet, or what circumstances will come your way. By being in the Word, you are making sure you are prepared and have “put on the full armor of God” for the day ahead.
KEY POINT
The Most Important Things in Life We Must MAKE time for. The urgencies always make time for themselves. You must be intentional with the Important Things.
Take some time daily to open the Bible and start reading. You don’t need a Bible Study plan, but if you would like one, the one I use is called the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan. I’ve used this one off and on for about 10 years now and I really love it. Sometimes I’ll just read 1 area for the day, and others I’ll read all 4 areas, but no matter what, spend some time daily in the Word.
How is this going to help you escape the chaos?
I believe there are these 3 Benefits to starting with the SOURCE:
3 Benefits:
You will recognize that life doesn’t center around us and our priorities. It centers around God, His plans for you, your spouse and family and the others He’s predestined to enter into your influence. This could include the children you teach if you’re a teacher, the family you nurture if you’re a stay-at-home mom or the patients you see in your counseling clinic. You’ll see yourself as a fellow worker with Christ instead of the “self-made woman” that doesn’t need God.
You will begin to look at the circumstances of life as things God is using to lead, direct and guide you. You will begin to ask him throughout the day for direction as you see and experience various circumstances
As you grow closer to God through his Word, you’ll learn about things He loves and things He hates. You’ll start to see people’s actions and attitudes and begin to soberly assess other’s motives. This helps you to grow in discernment and make good decisions.
The following scriptures is one of my favorite scripture verses. As a recovering “self-made woman”, I love how Jesus is clear with his disciples, as well as with us, that we truly cannot accomplish anything of eternal significance without Him:
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8
Tip 2: Start Listening and Observing.
As we fly through our days, we are so busy DOING that we rarely spend time THINKING.
Or, you might find yourself thinking as you drift off to sleep at night, “did I forget to complete XYZ?” or “I’ve got to make sure ABC knows about DEF tomorrow” and on and on it goes.
However one thing that is typically absent from these late night conversations with ourselves is the fact that we don’t spend time thinking about the bigger picture.
Some examples of bigger picture questions include:
What did I do today to care for my family and home well?
Did I take time to listen today or see how God might have been moving through that circumstance?
Is it necessary for me to be the person to do all of the things I did today? Or can some of those things be delegated to someone else?
If you take some time to think and observe you will reap these rewards:
You will become a better steward and manager of your day
You will be able to see if your goals in life as to the type of wife, mom, worker, etc. you want to be are in alignment with the daily tasks you’re working on
You will be able to have a clearer picture of how God is leading you in your life
Let’s do this together! Starting today, I want you to start carrying a small notebook around with you wherever you go. This is important to keep in a physical notebook and not your phone (more on why later).
Follow these simple steps each day:
Throughout the day, jot down thoughts and ideas as they come to mind (this should not serve as a task list - keep that somewhere else)
Jot down circumstances, your responses to them and any outcomes if necessary
At the end of the day, open your notebook to review your notes and write out the summary of today
Note anything you observed, something you want to change, and any insights or conclusions you believe God is leading you to make
Pray over the information in the notebook, and ask God to continue to reveal to you as you continue with this daily practice
Tip 3: Get Back to Basics.
I know you’re busy with this, that and the other, but it’s important to take a break from the daily grind and go search for what GOD wants for your life. As women, we can really struggle with this! As I’m writing this, I’m in a season where I sense God moving me in a new direction, and as I’m asking Him for his guidance, I’m revisiting this exact thing as well.
Here are some scriptures to remind us all of God’s purposes for women:
Proverbs 31: 11-15 - a wife of noble character, a wife and mom that does everything in her power to care for her family
Proverbs 31:16, 18, 24 - the wife and mom is industrious and moonlights with business endeavors to provide income for her family
1 Samuel 1-2 Hannah demonstrates faith and commitment to God by asking for a son
The book of Ruth shows us a woman that is faithful, loyal and full of integrity
Leviticus 19:29 warns women against prostitution and focuses instead on the importance of purity and holiness
Ephesians 5: 22-24 instructs wives to submit to their husbands and for husbands to sacrifice for their wives as a model of Christ loving the church
Titus 2:3-5 tells the older women to teach the younger women to love their families, stay busy in their homes and live self-controlled and pure lives
These are just a few of many scriptures you can study that will help to understand what we are called to be and do as women.
Whether you are single, a single mom, married with or without children, God has a role for you to play in life. He has a purpose and a plan for YOU.
No matter if you are “living your best life now” and have everything you could ever want, or if you’re searching for the next steps due to a lingering discontent in your heart, I can tell you one thing.
If you adjust your schedule and make time for these 3 tips I’ve shared with you, you will be on your way to a more orderly, peaceful and JOYFUL walk with Christ and also in your daily life, no matter what troubles come your way.
Give him some time in your chaotic days, and I promise He will bring a calm and a “"peace that surpasses all understanding…” (Philippians 4:7)
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:12
