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’s an abundance of self-help books and online resources that suggest various techniques for getting things done. Typically, they provide advice on maintaining focus and dedication, offering practical recommendations, tips, tricks, and often step-by-step actions to make tasks more manageable. One of the best-selling books in this genre is “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” by productivity consultant David Allen. This book introduces a method known as GTD, which helps in organizing to-dos, priorities, and schedules with the aim of maximizing efficiency while reducing stress.
However, despite our best intentions, many of us struggle to complete tasks. Whether it’s due to a lack of motivation or constant disruptions, finishing what we start often remains a challenge.
Consider how many times you’ve wanted to shed a few extra pounds but struggled to succeed. Even if you did manage to lose some weight, maintaining those results was often elusive. Personally, I’ve lost thousands of pounds over the years, only to gain them back again – a cycle of effort without lasting progress, like a hamster running on a wheel. However, I recently broke this cycle by following the Father’s plan.
The Father offers a simple two-step program. Step 1 is making a firm decision about what you want to achieve and committing to it wholeheartedly. This commitment is the challenging part. Step 2 is trusting in the Father’s promises to help you achieve your goal. As you place your trust in Him, He will support and enable you along the way, providing you with a sense of security.
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’ are those whose hearts are wholly dedicated to God (Matthew 5:8).”
“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 the condition of our hearts determines His dealings with us (Wiersbe).
Why did the Father come to David’s aid? What motivated Him to act? The answer is simple: the Father loved David (1 Samuel 13:14). Even more than that, the Father took great delight in him! Wouldn’t it be fantastic if the Father delighted in you and me? Remarkably, He does!
Psalms 37:23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
The Hebrew word translated as delights or “delight” or “delighted” is chephets. Chephetsconveyshappiness, joy, delight, and pleasure. It refers to something precious, priceless, and valuable, like a precious gem. Things or people described as chephets evoke a sense of extreme pleasure or satisfaction. Because they are so desirable, others are naturally attracted to them (TWOT).
Why the Father delights in us remains an unanswerable question and an unsolvable mystery. Yet, rest assured, if we dig deep enough, sovereign grace is the fundamental truth at the bottom of every well of mercy. What is certain, however, is that He indeed delights in the children of the King (Spurgeon).
REFLECT & PRAY
It’s all too easy to place our trust and confidence in people who fail to follow through, leaving us disappointed. However, when we trust in the Father and seek to do things His way, empowered by His Spirit, the outcome can be entirely different.
Father, I often struggle to hear and follow Your direction. Yet in my heart of hearts, I know that by doing things Your way and relying on the power of Your Spirit, I can accomplish what needs to be done. Please make it so.
INSIGHT
Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to get things done? Sure, there are obstacles, pressures, and distractions. But could there be something more at play?
Perhaps a common factor leads to failure when we try to serve our Father God. As Stanley notes, “Many of God’s servants don’t do God’s work in God’s way. Consequently, they are doomed to failure from the outset.”
Consider Zerubbabel, who was tasked with rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. One delay after another hindered its completion. The Father fully understood the situation and sent the prophet Zechariah to encourage Zerubbabel. An angel was dispatched, and Zechariah documented 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 and wants to walk with you.
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 