I like to buy planners. I get calendars by the week, month and year. I get planners that are full size, pocket size and journal size. I like how everything looks so organized and you can see what’s coming in the day ahead. I know there are apps on technology for this but I still like to look at, write out and hold the pages. Oddly enough, I rarely need the planners. I live life rather free spirited but it is also organized chaos. I also have a crazy memory when it comes to time with others that works like an internal clock. So after a few weeks of excitement with the new planner, it goes by the wayside. Oddly enough, those who live by their planners and try to work me into their schedules, they are the ones who change or cancel plans do to overbooking or missing something in their schedules. Jotting all the plans down and watching them get scratched out only to be left with mundane, necessary appointments became quite a downer. I allowed those scratches and scribbles to be the measure of my value.

Many look at my life as busy and refrain from asking me to do things and yet I don’t feel I do that much or much is asked of me. I’ve been blessed with the ability to say “yes” or “no,” when making plans and commitments. I know what I will be able to give my all to and what is just going to be something I can check off. There are the necessary and mandatory appointments but there are other things we chose, just to be busy. Matthew 5:37reads ” But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” (NKJV). I’ve recently struggled with having to break commitments due to some obstacles in life and I end up feeling guilt and shame. I don’t experience it when I say give the initial yes or no, it’s when I have to change the answer. Having to break the commitment to take care of necessities is not evil, it’s the guilt and shame that follows. God has rescued and restored us from guilt and shame. The evil one is who taunts us with not being enough and doing enough. This why many fill those planners with busy to believe they have value. Our value is not in how busy we are, it’s how intentional we are with our daily business. So my planners are filled less with what is going to happen in the days ahead but become a reflection on how I used the days. Some days are poured into others and some days were needed to take care of me in order to give Him my best. Many days are filled with both. Reflecting on how I followed God’s plan for the days allows me to plan better for the days ahead to be open to His plans and not locked into my busy. May you find ways to be intentional and be able to look back without shame or guilt and see how God is good.