Book 2 of Musings Taking the Day as It Come

Learn to take the day as it comes Do the best you can with the Lord's help. Trying to force perfection can be a destructive bondage.

I really am writing this brief article to myself.

I am what is termed a Type A, goal-driven personality. Also a perfectionist. I get an idea in my mind as to what I am supposed to do, and then drive myself until it is done regardless of how I feel.

I have had an anxiety breakdown in the past.

I used to drive myself with coffee and chocolate until I had a heart attack. As I was recovering the Lord told me if I continued to drink caffeinated coffee I was committing suicide. He didn't say anything about the chocolate.

However, I have quit both the caffeinated coffee and the chocolate and have learned to take a nap when I feel tired.

A while back the Lord spoke to me and said: "All there is, is now." I knew Jesus was saying that I should live in the present and quit driving myself in terms of the future. That was several years ago.

It has been difficult for me to cease my striving. Dr. McCarberg said it was no use advising me to take a vacation because I would work too hard at it. I have to learn to relax as I go along.

Lately I have discovered something. If I get up in the morning with what absolutely must be done that day, I can't hear the Lord as clearly as I would like. I am not allowing the Lord to direct my day.

I am asking God to help me slow down so I can hear Jesus clearly. So what if I don't get my quota of writing done, or my exercise routine for that day! I have been listening, seeking the mind of the Lord on how much writing I should do, how much exercising-even if I don't get anything done. Think of it! The world will proceed as always although my quota was not achieved.

Better to work at half-speed for two days than full speed for one day and thereby kill myself.

I want to be sternly obedient to Jesus. Do you? Well I can't hear Christ when I am striving for perfection.

How stupid one would feel if he worked himself to death, entered the spirit realm, and found out what he had accomplished had no significance in the sight of God, no eternal significance. He had worn himself out for nothing.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalms 127:2)