Devotionals

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Do Your Best And Let God Do The Rest
© 2005
by

Stephen A. Peterson


September is a month of renewal it seems. It is a month when all of life seems to turn a refreshing corner. The days seem cooler, the leaves burst forth in browns and reds, the pace of life quickens with new vigor. School begins in earnest; students renew old friendships and begin new ones with the arrival of young people from other communities. Before I come to realize it my off-computer deck becomes filled with sketches of writings for the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. I am forced to prioritize the tasks at hand to get the most out of the time I have been granted.

I used to measure my priorities against an imaginary set of concentric circles I labeled “In the middle of God”. God was the first circle in the middle of all the circles. Next came my (2) wife, (3) children, (4) relatives and family, (5) nation and neighbors, (6) self. Then I made another set of concentric circles that intersected at the “self” that had Jesus at the center followed by “others” then “you”. This spelled out “joy”.

These circles, designed to illustrate my priorities in life, often frustrated me because I found myself being concerned about what I was not doing than what I was doing. When I spent time tossing a baseball with my son, I thought I should be shopping with my wife in Oklahoma City. When I was counseling with troubled teens or members of their families, I thought I should devoting more time with my family. I have always felt that God should be the center of life and God should receive the most time. Yet, it seemed, God received so little time. Yes, I spent an hour in prayer, about a half hour in the Bible, and brief moments thanking the Lord for what I have and do. But it just seemed that it was just not enough devoted to God.

While preparing to referee a football game at Mid-Del Christian School in Del City, Oklahoma, I saw a poster in one of their portable building that read, “Do your best and let God do the rest”. At that moment, the visual picture ordered my priorities. Instead of putting God first and then moving on to other agenda items without Him, I now picture God in the middle of every activity. That every activity is a prayer and Biblical moment when done in the Spirit of God. Activities do not compete with each other. God’s presence enriches whatever I am doing—refereeing a ballgame, jogging along state highway 3, counseling difficult teens or listening to my saddened niece who just wants to talk. We are one with God when we recognize His presence as the center of our lives. All we have to do is to just let Him do the rest.

As you prepare and to go through the change of seasons in your heart and mind, make God the center of life, don’t worry and let Him do the rest. Let God be with you and in you in everything you do. For it is a prayer and is pleasing to your Father in Heaven.

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