God has uniquely created us as holistic beings with physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual domains. These domains are intertwined, and how we handle one area of our lives directly affects another. Have you ever considered how your spiritual growth impacts your mental health?
As believers, we must be intentional in building a well-ordered life. The signs of a well-ordered life are outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 as the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Unfortunately, in the fast-paced, noisy, technology-driven world we live in, it is easy to become distracted.
Busyness/Distractions
Busyness and distractions take over, becoming a roadblock to a well-ordered life. The fact is that most people are too busy. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 60% of people sometimes feel too busy to enjoy life. Among parents with children under 18, 74% said they feel too busy to enjoy life. Busyness leads to exhaustion, burnout, an anxiety epidemic, digital distraction, breakdown of family, chronic loneliness, and higher suicide rates.
We see how busyness shows up when Jesus visits Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Mary sits at the Lord’s feet, listening to his teaching, while Martha is worrying over the big dinner she is preparing. Martha complains to Jesus that Mary isn’t helping her out.
Author Wayne Mueller referenced this lifestyle in his book Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives. He states,
“The busier we are, the more important we seem to ourselves, and we imagine, to others. To be unavailable to our friends and family, to be unable to find time for the sunset (or even to know that the sun has set at all), to whiz through our obligations without time for a single mindful breath, this has become the model of a successful life.”
But God gives us wisdom and direction to overcome these roadblocks. By choosing to become deeply rooted in scripture, we can find the antidote to the busyness and distractions around us.
To Be Present
The antidote to busyness and distractions is to be present. Mary knew how to be present when Jesus was in the room. She intentionally chose to slow down and be in the moment with Him. Jesus gently reminded Martha of the importance of being present when he responded to her request.
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
Being rooted in scripture allows God to transform our minds by aligning us to be more like Him. May we follow Mary’s lead and find ways to be more present and sit in His presence in the new year.
Written by Heidi Sawyer, MS, LPC
Roswell Location
heidi@restorationcounselingatl.com, 678.534.3824, ext 116
Heidi works with adolescents and adults with life planning issues, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, spiritual issues, grief, life transitions, goal setting, and self-confidence. She focuses on helping her clients gain insight to their thought patterns, behaviors, and feelings using the lens of Cognitive Behavioral Theory combined with psychoeducation. Heidi also provides premarital counseling using the Prepare/Enrich program.