I’m a doer. If I don’t have a running to-do list, errands to run, or people to touch base with, I automatically feel as though I am not doing enough, not being enough, and not getting enough done. I fill my calendar from the moment I rise to the moment it’s time to head to bed, and a day well spent for me is too often a day without much stillness. I’m a person of action, and sometimes—more often than I’d like to admit—it is really hard for me to step away from all of the to-do’s and simply rest with the Lord.
“'Come, everything is now ready.’ But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.” (Luke 14:17-18). How often is it that I excuse myself from the invitation to rest with Him, if only for a while?
Today’s Gospel pulls my heart and mind back to what is important—to simply recognize the invitation I am so generously extended and to receive the invitation without worrying about my arbitrary to-do’s. So many are invited to a place at the table, yet so many are too busy to pay notice to the invitation extended. I am too often a part of the too many.
Each new morning, He invites me to His table—to the banquet of plenty. To simply be by His side. To put on the back burner all that I have to do and rest in His presence alone. To begin a new day with Him, to dine with Him, to listen to His word, and internalize His way—His ‘to-do’s’ for the day.
My hope and prayer for each of us today, sisters, is that we may choose to receive the invitation to join Him. To prioritize this day—not with our own ‘to-do’ lists, but with our minds and hearts set on His call. And may this be enough!
Write on the top of your to-do list: "Rest with God." Make it a priority today.
Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Denver, Colorado with her sweet husband, Matt, their quite large GSD pup, Sully, and baby on the way. She is a health coach and loves pizza, because #balance. Shalini graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, served with NET Ministries, and went on to attend Law School. She graduated with her J.D. and happily leaves all things Law behind! Some of her favorites include travel, re-connecting with old friends and making new ones, the ways in which God so beautifully brings all things full circle in His time, and a good, loud thunderstorm. Find out more about her here.