Relationships Over Routine

I ran out the door, a toasted vanilla oat milk shaken espresso in one hand and my car keys in the other. Not only was I running out the door, but I was also running on four hours of sleep. My to-do list was a million miles long; however, I felt like a broken down car, unable to move one more foot, let alone a mile. All I wanted to do was lay in bed, watch Hallmark channel, and ignore my responsibilities until they dissipated in thin air. My schedule was full, yet I wasn't fulfilled. A check mark on my to-do list accomplished a task, but it did not accomplish my purpose. I was too busy saying "Yes" to the world to say "Yes" to the Lord. Instead of investing in my relationships, I was obsessed with my routine.

This reminds me of the parable of the man who planned a wedding banquet for his son. He invited numerous guests, who all declined their invitation and went about their day. Every day, the Lord invites us to a banquet. His feast will leave us satisfied and full of the fruits of the Spirit. However, we often ignore His invitation and go about our numerous tasks. We think that accomplishments will bring us fulfillment and satisfaction. So, the Father extended a second invitation to the people. And another. And another. The guests, in pursuit of worldly pleasure and materialistic things, hardened their hearts and refused the invitation again and again. So, the planner extended his invitation to the lowest of the low: the broken, the poor, and the desperate. What did these people do? Clothed in humility, they gladly accepted the invitation. They knew true fulfillment doesn't come from accomplishments or how put together they appeared- it comes from the Father.

My toasted vanilla oat milk shaken espresso may give me a caffeine jolt, but it can never provide me with the rest that only comes from Christ. The Father invites us to His banquet every moment of every day. He gives us the opportunity to devour His Word and become full of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. True fulfillment is achieved when we stop going through the motions and prioritize relationships instead of routines. When we strive for Kingdom advancement instead of worldly accomplishments- we are left satisfied.

Resting is something that I struggle with. It’s an ongoing effort to place the Lord first and rely on Him to fulfill me. However, instead of being broken down, I am now beautifully broken and made whole. Instead of being unable to move a foot, I can now soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, and walk and not grow faint. For I have a purpose far greater than a checkmark on my to-do list.