Melissa Michaels
About the Author

Melissa Michaels is the NY Times Bestselling author of Love The Home You Have and The Inspired Room book. Her blog, The Inspired Room, was voted Better Homes & Gardens Readers' Favorite decorating blog in 2014 and 2015. Melissa is a church planter's wife and a mom to three human kids and...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. So much goodness here, Melissa, and so easy to let the truth of it slip through my fingers.
    May we find grace to live one piece lives of balance that honor the bodies God gave us while also serving all the people in our lives who depend on the things He’s gifted us to do.

  2. Melissa,
    I agree that we get caught up in chasing down unnecessary bunny trails…we are human and easily distracted. My challenge is that I am involved in Christian ministry as my “work” and my offering. I am, however, guilty of overdoing it when trying to use my gifts to the glory of God. REST is a key in this balance of life. Our righteous acts are like filthy rags if we don’t follow God’s other commands like rest and be still. Like Jesus, we need to come away for awhile just to sit and be in the presence of our Heavenly Father and talk WITH Him….not just about Him. This is where my scales need a little evening out. Great advice this am.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

  3. Wonderful article! I have to keep reminding myself of this. Yes, what God wants most is not our works, but us. I’ve heard it put this way – we’re not “human doings”, but “human BE-inns” :).

  4. Melissa, I needed this reminder! Some days I feel like I’m just marking time, going through the motions. Other days I’m so busy with things that don’t matter. Abiding with God — that was our New Year’s Eve sermon — I already needed a reminder of why it’s so important. It’s life.

  5. Melissa, I needed this reminder this morning! So many times I rush, rush, rush and ask God later to bless what I’m doing. 🙂 No wonder I feel tired physically and spiritually. I’m going to start meditating on John 15:1-2 each morning and ask God what His priorities are for my day.

    Have a blessed day!
    Lara <

  6. Melissa,
    Your words were like a breath of fresh air, thank-you so much for them.

    “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”
    Proverbs 16:3
    Blessings to all,
    Penny

  7. Each morning, I seek Him first, by filling up on His Word and asking for a “centering” in His precepts. Asking for His guidance and leading in my day’s activities helps me find His will and path for the next 24 hours, and creates a beautiful string of encounters with believers and non-believers. Some encounters reveal others’ needs: encouragement, answers, direction, resources = JESUS. Some encounters reveal teaching for me: JESUS. By walking in His Way, peace and abundant living can be enjoyed.

  8. Melissa,
    Thank you for this! Not only did I literally pray this morning for God to help me balance the things in my life, but your post is like a big and beautiful sticky note in my mind, reminding me to look back to see how God has taught me in the past…

    I was once in ministry as an assistant to our Pastor (preaching when needed, in-home visits as well as hospital calls etc.) and I knew in my heart God was calling me to step down. A confirmation even followed when an evangelist visited our church and said to me after his sermon when I had questions, “What if God wants you over here doing ‘this’ but you’re too busy over here doing ‘that?'” It made me analyze my priorities and I realized I was following everyone else’s expectations, as well as my own, and not God’s (my fault only…no one else’s).

    Well, I unfortunately did NOT step down when God said to…and our Pastor left, leaving me with an unbearable burden; the previous tasks I mentioned as well as the secretary and the bridge between our church and the district. I burned out, fell apart, nearly lost my mind…I cried out to God at night to save me. Slowly, over time, He did. But I had to learn the hard way to obey Him when it came to my priorities and tasks and NOT my own or anyone else’s ideas of what should come first.

    Which brings me to today. God is calling me to do a number of things and I’m praying about each one. I’m learning that He is gentle and will NEVER burn me out (again, that was all my doing). I’m praying He teaches me to prioritize the tasks He’s given me on a daily basis, moment by moment. And I’ve learned and have been reminded of just recently, the beginning of each day, God must come first. I know I’m lost without Him.

    Thank you for a MUCH needed post, Melissa! God bless you!

  9. “For me, a balanced life doesn’t begin with trying to figure out a strategy for how to “slow down” or to “just say no” or even how to “do less.” THIS RIGHT HERE!!!!! I’m so tired of hearing well just slow down then. As a mama of 6 ages 14-1, there are no “slow” days. And sure enough we’ve cut nearly all the extra curricular activities and general busyness yet the WORK the Lord has called me to in raising my children, caring for my husband and leading in ministry is still ALOT. Abiding in Jesus, and staying focused is what keeps me grounded. Thank you for this.

  10. We have to rest in order have energy. I still get a lot done and if I don’t it’s probably not that important. the laundry will still be there.

  11. Thank you for these beautiful words that remind us to evaluate what we are pursuing each day. It’s so funny how it’s so easy to go to church, but seems so hard to trust God to give us the ability to spend a few minutes every morning and evening refocusing our heart on Him without running out of time for everything else we have planned. I just found the devotional Emotionally Healthy Relationships Day by Day by Peter Scazzero that is set up as a morning and evening verse, paragraph, and prayer similar to the Moment To Breathe devotional book, and once I was willing to trust God to dedicate those few minutes to Him, I found that He honored my efforts and is working in so many ways in my heart.

  12. Yes, there are a million things we can do. And it is hard to find balance. I think one of the things that has worked for me is to carefully decide what to say yes to and when to say no. That was hard in the beginning because I found my no answer was often responded to with the piling on of guilt. Just because you can do something doesn’t always mean we should.

  13. Melissa,

    Timely advice & wisdom. God wants us to start our day with Him. When we do our days go better. Most of us struggle between flesh & spiritual. It is so easy to want to watch the news first before reading the Bible. We need to make it a priority to spend the first few minutes of our day with Him. Just take few minutes each morning & read some passages or do some breath prayers. They help relax you, plus allow you to commune with God. Talk with Him about your day. He is always there waiting for you. “We were made for so much more than juggling to-do lists”. He will help you get through your day!

    Blessings

  14. Your words are so beautifully crafted in writing. They just flow with the truth of God’s word and the purpose he has given you within writing. What a gift he has not only given you, but others who are blessed by your heart after his!

    Thank you for sharing in such a beautiful way. I love this verse and the perspective you gave on it was perfect!