If you are anything like me, I am constantly trying to juggle 10 things at once, thinking that I am very good at multi-tasking. The reality is that I realize I am not, and by trying to do too much at once I really am not accomplishing things as efficiently as I could. It has felt like an especially busy season, running essentially two separate businesses, while also preparing for the few months ahead as we work our way through the last trimester of my pregnancy. The projects and pressing priorities and laundry lists of to-dos keep growing on the work and personal front. There often seems to be not enough hours in a day. Anyone else relate to any of this? I am sure I am not alone….

But recently I read some truth about Work as Overflow. It was the perfect reminder that rather than feeling overwhelmed by the work and to dos, we can be overwhelmed with HIS LOVE. Rather than overworking, striving, hustling, we can let our work be an outpouring and overflow of HIS goodness and kindness. A reminder that HE equips us for what He calls us to. I'm going into it trying to stay focused on OVERFLOW rather than Overwork. Letting my work be an outpouring of worship to the Lord. Trusting Jesus to fill us to overflowing, abiding in Him, trusting Him and finding peace in Him alone.

My word for the year is ABIDE, and it has been such a blessing to cling to this truth through this year. Maybe another post for another day on this word and what God has been teaching me through abiding. When we ABIDE in HIM, He shows us the way and reveals the “Next Right Thing” in the monotony of tasks and never ending to-dos. If we walk in step with HIM, abiding in Him, He reveals to us His will and can produce fruit of the spirit such as joy, peace and patience in the process.

"Straining and striving does not accomplish the work God gives us to do. Only God Himself, who always works without stress and strain and who never overworks, can do the work He assigns to His children. When we restfully trust Him to do it, the work will be completed and will be done well. And the way to let Him do His work through us is to so fully abide in Christ by faith that He fills us to overflowing.

Below is an excerpt from a devotional “Streams In the Desert” that I absolutely love. Such a beautiful picture of how we can shift our hearts and minds to let our work be OVERFLOW rather than overwork:

“A man who learned this secret once said, “I came to Jesus and drank, and I believe I will never be thirsty again. My life’s motto has become ‘Not overwork but overflow’" There is no straining effort in an overflowing life, and it is quietly irresistible. It is the normal life of omnipotent and ceaseless accomplishment into which Christ invites each of us to enter today and always. “

“Be all at rest, my soul, O blessed secret,

Of the true life that glorifies the Lord:

Not always does the busiest soul best serve Him,

But he that rests upon His faithful Word.

Be all at rest, my soul, for rest is service,

To the still heart God does His secrets tell;

Thus will you learn to wait, and watch, and labor,

Strengthened to bear, since Christ in you does dwell.

For what is service but the life of Jesus,

Lived through a vessel of earth’s fragile clay,

Loving and giving and poured forth for others,

A living sacrifice from day to day.