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The Devotional Diva - The Madness of Multitasking
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The Devotional Diva - The Madness of Multitasking
By Barbara Gobbs
Executive Assistant and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 (NAS95)
Retirement makes life very interesting around our house, especially in the home repair department. While most of the major housekeeping issues are complete, there are others still waiting to be tackled. This will be the case forever, for nothing is ever truly “finished” around the house. This revelation brings me great sorrow when contemplating laundry.
However, there are some things I think could be done faster while my husband takes the opposing view. He complains that I want to start too many things at once and then hurry through them. I complain that it shouldn’t take 3 days to paint one wall. Can you see our quandary?
This morning we rehashed that topic again just to get the blood flowing. Bob’s question to me was, “Why do women want to do 40 things at one time and want them all done now – all this multitasking stuff and men want to focus and do one thing at a time and do it right?”
I offered back, “Well dear, in the most basic sense of things, women have to multitask! You have to be able to change a diaper with one hand, pull a second child out of the toilet with the other, cook dinner and vacuum all at the same time, or nothing will get done!” He appeared unimpressed.
I continued, “And when I worked in a corporate setting, I was applauded for my ability to multitask. It was necessary and required. But. . . I am beginning to think we have overvalued multitasking to a fault. We are loosing the ability to focus on singularly important issues. I mean, you can’t multitask your relationship with God.”
I was stunned, where did that come from? Were those words really coming out of my mouth? It sounded like my voice. I was confused. I wonder if God sat back on His throne and uttered, “Out of the mouths of babes!”
Recently, I’d had a few days of distraction bordering disillusionment. Yesterday, I shook myself awake and prayed for myself – you know we are allowed to do that! I prayed for focus. Shortly thereafter, my friend Dianna called and the subject got around to focus. Later in the morning, a conference call discussion once again turned to focus. Amazing, isn’t it?
Jesus told us to seek Him first, seek His righteousness first and everything else will fall into place. Wiser words were never spoken. Yet if we are truly honest, they go unheeded often. Now we might come to a day where we “get it together” but after a few weeks or even a few days, we loose focus again.
Seek Christ FIRST. Seek His righteousness FIRST. Then everything else will be added in, according to His will and plan for the day. If I try to multitask my relationship with Christ with my work (even if it is ministry based), my family, my social life etc… I lose. God loses. Everyone loses because He is not getting my fully focused, undivided attention.
So let’s loose the madness of multitasking. Let’s get past the dominion of doing more than we were designed to at one time. Let’s practice some single-minded focus before Christ and ask His help in all that we have to accomplish. He doesn't miss the details in our day. However, if we refocus our focus on the Father, perhaps He’ll guide our right hand and our left hand to do all that needs to be done, and get it done right.
Now that’s a method with no madness!
Blessings,
Barbara
Divinely Inspired Victoriously Active
Barbara Gobbs is a ministry partner with and the Executive Assistant of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden, Publicist at 904 316-5462. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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