I can be a workaholic.

My to-do list never seems to get any shorter.

There’s always a new project I want to tackle, a new goal I want to meet.

Idleness is not in my vocabulary, but rest seems to elude me as well.

There have been too many times I’ve put my projects and my to-do list above the most important things in life. I’ve put them above my family. I’ve put them above taking care of myself. And I’ve put them above spending time with God.

While being a hard worker is a good thing, allowing work to consume my life showed me I had created a god for myself.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24 NIV)

I was trying to serve two masters.

Every morning I would wake up with the to-do list completely full. Items would get checked off during the day, but somehow others found their way on the list. Each night I would go to bed exhausted and a little guilty for sleeping. There were still so many things to get done. I wished I could have stayed up just a little longer, but my body screamed for rest.

I’m realizing our physical exhaustion is an indication that our souls also need to be replenished and repaired. Too often I forget about the importance of rest. I needed to take a serious looks at my priorities and my spiritual health.

God deserves my everything, but for too long I’d been giving him my leftovers.

I’m starting a new season in life. While I’m going to continue being determined and hardworking, I’m not going to allow my to-do list to consume my life. Each day there are going to be things that don’t get accomplished, but maybe that’s showing me I have too many responsibilities on my plate. Those responsibilities need reevaluated. My priorities are God and my family. Everything else needs to fall after that.

I’m finding joy in the simple things.

I’m welcoming the distractions from my children. I’ll enjoy playing outside with them on a gorgeous day without thinking about the dirty dishes in the sink.

I’m welcoming my husband wanting to spend extra time with me. I’ll show my genuine interest when he’s sharing something with me instead of glancing at my email.

I’m soaking up God’s word instead of skimming over a short piece of scripture each morning. I’ll meditate on it throughout the day and turn my thoughts to God.

I will rest in knowing God has everything under control and that I don’t need to do it all.