Weights vs. Burdens

I spent mornings of all of last week in a spiritual retreat mode, reviewing my goals and agenda, and asking God for clear direction. At first I was ready to find a way to work both my writing career and a stronger push to make a living with affiliate programs.

The next day I was sure I had to give one up, and decided it would be the business side. The writing goals were more noble and I'd had those for years and years. I'm idealistic if anything, and was ready to make the sacrifice.

But then it was as though I began to mourn the death of those business dreams, I'd hoped to help others find ways to make a living from home, working online. That income I was going to make was to sponsor my publishing goals!

Even just tonight, reading in the Bible and my broken, tattered copy of "The Spiritual Man" by Watchman Nee, I see more clearly that this is like a burden, not a weight.

Let me pause to explain. A weight on our spirit is a pressure from Satan that crushes us, while a burden is a desire, a longing from God to do some important work. It may be to pray, it may be to take on a hard task. When we do that work, whatever the calling, the burden eases on our spirit. A weight, however, would bind and oppress, and make us miserable.

With that in mind, I brighten at the thought of doing those business dreams! That's a burden to help people, not a weight.

But then the promotion of my books will slip to the rear again. "Oh Lord," I cry, "why do I see so many great things to do, when I have only one life to live like everyone else?"

It comes down to choices and priorities. Sometimes we can't have all the options, but there are situations in which we can line them up in lists, and do first one, then the next, then the next, and work down the line for as long as it takes.

I already do that in a number of compartments in my life. It's not for the impatient, and there are often delays, but it can be done.

I do not have a final conclusion yet at this point, however, after all the times I've advised you dear subscribers to hang in there, to persevere - how can I do less?

If you struggle to fit in everything you'd like to do this year, particularly in your online ventures, take heart - you're not the only one, and you CAN find the right answer too from the same source of wisdom that I seek out.