The Diligent Are Richly Supplied

 Quote from Managers of Their Homes, by Steve and Teri Maxwell:

It takes a conscious decision to be in charge of our homes and children rather than letting them be in charge of us. That decision is "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Cor. 10:5b) When our thoughts are God's thoughts they go like this: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13); "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (II Cor. 12:9); "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Tim. 1:7); "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). These kinds of Biblical thoughts will encourage us as we undertake the discipline of scheduling our God-given responsibilities. (Managers of Their Homes, Steve and Terri Maxwell, pg. 2)

Signs you may need a home management schedule:

~ The tyranny of the present rules you.

~ You're doing all the work around the house despite having children over 4-5 years old who are physically capable of helping.

~ Your housemates have time for leisure but you don't.

~ You can't seem to read your Bible regularly because you're always behind or too exhausted.

~ You feel constantly behind, leading to crankiness and the tendency to overreact.

~ You don't have time for your husband.

~ You're easily discouraged about all you have to do, so you end up doing too little, causing you to get more behind.

~ You keep forgetting to pay the bills, or you waste gas and time running errands inefficiently.

~ You never have time to cuddle with the kids and read books during the day.

In many ways, a schedule can relieve stress from your life. When tasks become routine, they require much less physical and emotional energy. A normal day is easier to get through without having to: make numerous draining decisions, answer questions from other family members concerning their direction, or feel the day has come to an end without getting anything done. You start your day with a plan already in place for what comes next. (Managers of Their Homes, Steve and Terri Maxwell, pg. 3)

Friend, I can suggest initial steps, based upon my own experience:

~ Make a personal schedule and learn to follow it, and then begin to schedule your children. As moms we need to be good role models of self-control and perseverance, so it makes sense to master the skill of doing the next thing, before expecting it from our children. Procrastination and disorganization are not cured overnight, but Lord knows it will improve your inner peace, your daily mood, and your witness, to finally establish rule over these vices. See it through for the glory of God.

~ Start by praying for wisdom, and then make a list of the things you think the Lord wants you to accomplish each day, around the house and with your children and beyond. It may take a week to finalize this list. A winning schedule does not come together quickly. It takes prayer, effort and revision, and definitely perseverance. Use your list to write your personal schedule, deciding what must be done daily and weekly, and how long the tasks will take. Build your schedule around your daily devotional time. That is the most important thing and the foundation upon which your success depends.

~ When you are ready to schedule your children, start with a half-day schedule first, get the kinks out, and then add an afternoon schedule.

Order Managers of Their Homes here. I'm not receiving any compensation for recommending this resource. It seems strange to write that on a small, non-commercial blog, but when I mention a resource repeatedly I guess it doesn't hurt to add it.

Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 

No, not every disorganized person is a sluggard, but the discouragement that comes from disorganization can lead to laziness. A diligent person knows how to do the next thing, rather than succumbing to idleness.





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