I’ve been praying lately that God would show me how to “do life.” I mean how to really do life well. Too many times I get caught up in things that don’t really matter and I spend too much time looking around to other people, other places to tell me or show me how I should live. Sometimes I get distracted by things that I enjoy, comforts really, and the truly important things start to lose their focus.

A lot of times I get caught up in comparing myself with others.  But then I remind myself that I have “far more interesting things to do with my life and that I am an original.” Galatians 5:25,26  We all have better things to do. We are all originals.

Some days I’m tired. I’m worn out, burned out on religion. And those are the days that He says come. He says get away with me and you’ll recover your life. Matthew 11:28-30 says he’ll show me, he’ll show you, how to take a real rest.  He tells us to walk with him and work with him, to watch how he does it.  And here comes the best part…He says we can learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Have you ever heard of anything more wonderful & beautiful in all your life?!! The key word here is learn. It’s not instantaneous (like I would sometimes like it to be) it’s a process. He says we will learn it as we walk with him and work with him. He promises not to lay anything heavy or ill fitting on us. If we keep company with him we’ll learn to live freely and lightly. And I can’t help but think that must be the way to “do life.” I mean to really do life well.  

The amazing thing about God is he tells us how to do life and then he tells us what happens when we do it his way. He gives us gifts. So many amazing gifts.  So, I don’t need to worry. I shouldn’t be distracted.  And I’m wasting everyone’s time by comparing. He promises you and I that we will find ourselves involved in loyal commitments and that we won’t have to force our way in life. We’ll be able to direct our energies wisely, as we learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Now that’s what I call “doing life well.”

Galatians 5:22-23

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.