don't let Mr. Scrooge get between you and the alarm clock

AHHH Mondays. They just seem to take the life out of ya don't they? Well, for a good number of people they do. But why? Isn't the end of the weekend merely a mindset? Doesn't this happen every week, 52 times a year? (the answer here is yes). But I admit, sometimes Mondays seem tougher and more stressed filled.

Welcome to Monday morning, the ceasing of my dreaming. Generally when I wake up on Monday mornings, it's like I download my to-do list in my mind for all I have to accomplish today and this week. Oh joy...But instead, this morning when I woke up and the mental download and related tension and stress started, it ceased. Then God showed me this:

Time
Value
Mission

When you go to worry or stress, or judge yourself as a failure/success (related to yesterday's blog), stop and consider these 3 tests.
1)Time-The time you have the ability to most directly influence is that of today and that within your direct reach. Thus, if you cannot influence something in the future with your actions today, there is no sense worrying or stressing about it, for it is not a trouble of today (Matthew 6:34). (For example, don't worry about if everyone will make it to Christmas play practice next Wednesday--you cannot influence that with actions...give it to God). And even if you can influence something in the time you have set before you, that does not mean you should stress, but seek wisdom in using that concern to most efficiently and effectively conquer the challenge or task.
2) Value- The resources, talents, and money you have set in front of you are the value you need to be concerned with. That is to say, be content with these resources (whether you're making minimum wage or you just flat out can't sing) and use them to the best of your ability for God's glory. There is no need to fret about a talent God has not blessed you with or funds He did not provide for you to conquer your tasks today. Remember James 1:2-3 tells us that struggles/trials (even with speaking in public or making ends meet) produce endurance and ultimately develop us as people.
3) Mission- Here's the biggie. Remind yourself when you wake each morning what your mission is. And what is your mission?--you, ask yourself? Hopefully as a Christian, you identify your mission to be sharing the love of Christ and His message of salvation. When you go to judge 'successes' and 'failures' in your life, before you get all down and out, compare them to this mission, and reevaluate--was it really a failure? was it really a success? This helps me when I face challenges or big tasks at work or home. If I remind myself that no matter what my test score comes out to be or my project at work results in that it's most important to live and share His Gospel, it seems to take pressure off of the stresses of life and help me navigate with wisdom in more difficult situations.

So next time you go to fret, or your Monday morning wake up isn't fresh and exciting, remember Time, Value, Mission....are you using your time and the resources/valuables provided to you to accomplish His mission? What can you do today to ensure that you are?