I was looking back through some things I’d written a long time ago for some devotional books for my publisher. I ran across one titled Margin. As I registered the title in my brain, I sighed because I knew I was about to be convicted. Here’s what it said:
Margin
For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:10-11 (NIV)
The margin of a sheet of paper is for notes, additions and corrections. Consider a busy person’s planner or calendar. It’s usually thick with notes and dog-eared from frequent use. Seldom is there an opening in the day’s schedule for unexpected things that may arise, or even just a few minutes set aside for rest. But, God instructs us to plan rest in our schedule and to leave our margin free of clutter in order to accommodate those last minute things.
Hebrews 4 references the final, eternal rest we will enter into with Christ. But, in the meantime, we’re called to lead an uncluttered life so that we are ready for service to God. We are not to busy ourselves with the cares of the world, completely filling our margins. Does your life have a clean margin or have you filled your page completely, leaving no room for additions or corrections? Is there room in your life for the plans that God has for you?
Lord, correct my thinking and clear my clutter. Help me to work a margin into my day so that Your plans, last minute notes, corrections and additions can find a place in my life. Let me not be so busily focused on my own agenda that I miss Yours. Amen.
Ouch!
Yeah, my margins are full. Too full.
On one hand, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that much of what fills my plate is of God. On the other hand, I know that He never asked me to complete my tasks at super-human speed.
On one hand, I know that my heart is right and that I want nothing more than to be a light and share God Word and His plan with other people. On the other hand, I know that He wants me to know Him as much as I want to make Him known.
On one hand, I wouldn’t trade a bit of what I have on my plate for an empty one. On the other hand, a nap would be nice.
I am a tad over promised right now, but it can’t be changed, it can only be a learning experience. Granted, much of it isn’t necessarily my fault as I signed up for classes and took on extra work while my hubby was out of work. God blessed him with a job, so now he’s working, and I’m overcommitted because I don’t have as much help at home. That’s jut the nature of the curveballs life throws sometimes–and proof of the need for a nice, wide margin.
People who know me well or who have been around this blog for a while are probably saying, “Who is she kidding? This is in her nature and it isn’t going to change.” You’re probably right. But a girl can dream, can’t she?
How are YOUR margins right now? Nice, healthy, white margins with plenty of room? Or smudged, scribbled, and torn where the eraser poked through?
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