How to get things done ∙

How to get things done ∙

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.” – Zechariah 4:6

Psalms 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

Psalms 18:19 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.

There are lots of self-help books and online feeds that suggest techniques on how to get things done.

Usually, they provide advice regarding focus and dedication. They offer commonsense recommendations, tips, tricks, and often a list of steps of action to make things more manageable. A best-selling book was written by productivity consultant David Allen, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. GTD offers a productivity method for organizing your to-dos, priorities, and your schedule. Its goal is to maximize your efficiency while reducing your stress.

Yet it seems for many of us, even with the best of intentions, when we try to get things done, but can’t seem to finish. Maybe it’s motivation or the lack thereof. Perhaps disruptions get in the way. Whatever!

Think about how many times you wanted to lose a few extra pounds. But you were never seemed to be able to get the job done. And if perchance you did, maintaining lasting results was not likely. Personally, I have no doubt lost thousands of pounds in my lifetime, only to find them again. Lots of effort, but no permanent progress. I have been like a hamster running on a wheel in its cage. However, I recently broke the falling short cycle. I followed the Father’s plan.

The Father provides a two-step program. Step 1 is truly deciding what you want to do and promising yourself that you will do it no matter what. Commitment, that’s the hard part. Step 2 is to trust in the Father’s promises to get it done. As you trust Him, He will come alongside you and enable you.

Psalms 18:25-27

 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

 26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.

 27 You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

“The way we relate to the Lord determines how the Lord relates to us (Psalms 18:25-27). David was merciful to Saul, and God was merciful to David (Matthew 5:9). David was loyal (‘blameless’), and God was faithful to him and kept His promises to bless him. David wasn’t sinless, but he was blameless in his motives. The ‘pure in heart’ (Matthew 5:8) are those whose hearts are wholly dedicated to God. Saul had been devious in his dealings with God, David, and the people, but David was honest and straightforward. . .. [David] learned that faith is living without scheming. God’s character and covenants never change, but His dealings with us are determined by the condition of our hearts” (Wiersbe).      

Why did the Father come to David’s aid? What motivated the Father to act? The answer is simple. The Father loved David (1 Samuel 13:14). And more than that Father took great delight in him! Wouldn’t be fantastic if the Father delighted in you and me? How marvelous, He does!

The Hebrew word translated as delights or delighted is chephets. Chephets is a word that connotes happiness, joy, delight, pleasure. It refers to something precious, priceless, valuable, even a precious gem. Things or people which are chephets elicit a sense of feeling extreme pleasure or satisfaction. Because they are so desirable, others are easily attracted to them (TWOT).

REFLECT & PRAY

It is so easy to put our trust and confidence in those that fail to follow through. We are left only with disappointment. When we put our trust in the Father and seek to do things His way and in the power of His Spirit, the outcome may well be entirely different.

Father I am often disinclined to hear and listen to direction. But in my heart of hearts, I know that doing things Your way in the power of Your Spirit, I can get things done. Please make it so.

INSIGHT

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to get things done? Of course, there are obstacles, pressures, and distractions. But perhaps there is something more?

Perhaps there is a common factor that results in failure when we try to serve our Father God. “Many of God’s servants don’t do God’s work in God’s way. Consequently, they are doomed to failure from the outset” (Stanley).

Zerubbabel was working on rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. One thing after another delayed its completion. The Father had a full understanding of the situation and sent the prophet Zechariah to encourage Zerubbabel. An angel was dispatched. Zechariah wrote down the message on how to get the job done.

Zechariah 4:6-7

 6 Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”

This was the Father’s way of saying to Zerubbabel, “The work can be completed. There are no immovable obstacles when you do things My way and by My Spirit. And when it’s finished, there will be a big celebration” (Stanley).

There are two approaches to getting things done. This is particularly true of tasks that the Father assigns to us.

“First, you can do it in the flesh. Doing God’s work in the flesh boils down to depending on influence, personality, gifts, natural resources, education, and experience. Or second, you can carry it out under the direction of and in the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s God’s way” (Stanley).

“When we do God’s work in God’s way, it will bear the unmistakable mark of the Holy Spirit. There will be something inexplicable about it. People will know that what has happened can never be repeated simply by bringing the right components together. The whole is divinely greater than the sum of the parts” (Stanley).

The Scriptures explain this in many ways. When our spirits are quiet, and we put our confidence in the Father, we find strength.

Isaiah 30:15 Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.

Proverbs 3:5-7

 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.

Stop for a moment and consider. How does the Father feel about you?

He delights in you as He delighted in David.  As you seek to walk with the Father, remember He delights in you. He wants to walk with you.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 3-19-2

© Dr. H 2022