Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

What is the first thing you think about when you get up in the morning?

What motivates you to wake up and start your day? Do you have healthy routines or habits in your life? Or do you make it up as you go along? Where does God fit in? Do you get in bed at the end of the night to sleep and realize you forgot about Him?

I’ll tell you a story and see if this sounds familiar to you.

Hilda woke to the sun shining in her window. She yawned and rolled over. The alarm had not yet gone off, so she made herself more comfortable. Soon enough the alarm did ring its obnoxious sound, causing a groan to escape from her lips. Rolling over and turning it off, she noticed her Bible and journal on the nightstand. She had placed them there last night to remind herself to do her devotions this morning. She had not spent time with the Lord in over a week now; work had taken up so much of her time. Well, today she would do it, she told herself.

She slid her Bible and journal into her lap with a plunk and opened her Bible. She began to read the words, but as she did, the tasks of the day flooded before her eyes as if she were writing a list to herself. Organize the shelves in the café, sweep and mop the café floor, erase and rewrite a portion of the menu adding the new things, put the receipts with the others in the books—and on and on the list went. Not to mention that later that day, after work, she would have to clean her house.

She quickly became very overwhelmed. Placing her Bible and journal to the side of her on the bed, she went to get ready for the morning. Once she had had her breakfast, she was off. She opened the bed and breakfast and went right to the café on the left side of the cottage. She ran through her list all day, accomplishing one task after another.

By the end of the day, she walked home with her roommate, and the two of them tackled their messy home, making sure everything was back in order. Hilda fell into bed that night purely exhausted. The rest of the week looked similar. She would place her Bible and journal in different places in the house to remind herself not to forget to do devotions—putting God first in her day, or at least not forgetting Him altogether. But time and again she would forget.

Her task list continued to grow. Her phone would ring at the worst times. Her friends would have a bad day and need her. The house again was becoming cluttered. And her stress level was rising to extremes. Not to mention her energy levels plummeted. She had been so caught up in everything she did not even realize she was so tired until Saturday, when she woke up at 12 p.m. and her whole body ached. Where had the week gone? She could hardly recall what she had even done.

The Bible she had left in her bed two days ago had slid to the floor and stayed there completely forgotten. She rolled over and stretched, blinking at the sun coming in her window.

“Good morning, My Love,” the words seemed to be whispered to her spirit.

She smiled at the words God had begun to speak over her when she was in college. That time had been similar. She had let many things take the place God should have had in her life. But when she had paused just for a moment, this was what He had called her. Despite everything, He still cherished her. He was patiently waiting for her, completely understanding how He had made her a task‑oriented person—and how hard it was for her to concentrate on anything else.

He had brought to her mind then, and reminded her even now, of what He had spoken to Martha all those years before:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed.”

“Oh God, forgive me. The week has gotten away so fast and I left You behind. I do love You, but life just keeps going and it’s so fast. You gave me something I love, and I have let it take Your place.”

Hilda remembered a conversation she had had with her roommate last week. Her roommate had described their relationship with God like a marriage. You don’t always feel in love—you must choose to love. She had said the thing that stuck out the most was her advice: “Change things up when you feel like that with God. Invite Him into the things you enjoy.”

As interesting as the idea had been, that’s where it had stayed—in that conversation. She hadn’t even tried putting it into action yet.

She rose and went to her closet. Her new pretty blue sundress she hadn’t even worn caught her eye. Well, if this relationship with God was like a marriage and she was to be His bride, then what would it look like if she began to treat Him like her Bridegroom? Yes, He could pursue her and lavish His love on her—but what if there was a way she could choose to act out her love for Him?

She had never quite thought about it like that before, but she liked the new idea.

“Well, God,” she said to herself, “would You like to go on a date with me?”

She pulled out her pretty blue dress and began to think out her plan of how she could show God just how much she loved Him.

Does her busy week sound anything like yours has been? I know for me, this happens a lot. Maybe not in devotions necessarily—sometimes yes—but more so throughout the rest of my day. I just let the busyness consume me. I forget to talk to Him. I forget to invite Him into the things that I’m doing. I forget to even ask Him what I should be doing and just let the chaos drag me along. I forget that rest is also something God asks of us.

God wants to be a part of even our everyday mundane lives—if only we would want Him there. What do you think of her friend’s advice? And in what way can you make God a part of your everyday life? Not just an hour in the morning or whenever it is that you choose to have time with Him, but truly throughout your day.

If there is anything I have learned, it’s that God is patient, gentle, and very caring. He will love you no matter how many days you forget Him, and He will be so happy when you choose to remember Him and spend time with Him. He’s just waiting for you to turn around and take His hand.

Don’t forget to share your own stories of things you have learned with us. And have a good week everyone.