Glorifying God in Our Busy Lives, with author C. J. Redwine

Ever been asked to help out at church but felt too busy to say yes? Ever had a friend ask you for prayer but then a week goes by and you forget?

We’ve all been there.

Our busy lives begin to eclipse our service to God. We have so many things going, even good things, that we feel like mice on a wheel and we never slow down enough to look around us at what we’re missing.

New York Times bestselling author C. J. Redwine offers some excellent advice for how to minister to others, even during the busiest seasons of life. She knows what it’s like to be busy: a mom, an author, a speaker, a website manager.

How do you minister to others when you are busy?

It's so easy when I get busy to put my head down and just try to survive feeling overwhelmed by my own life.

But God has called me to be present in the lives of those he brings across my path, so while there are certainly seasons of life where support needs to flow toward me instead of from me, most of the time, it's a matter of intentionality.

I make a list of people I know I want to check in with each week, either because I know they are going through something hard or because God puts them on my heart. Every day, I either text or send a DM to one or two of those friends. Sometimes it becomes a longer conversation. Sometimes it's just enough to let them know I'm there if they need me.

It's such a quick, easy way to be a good friend in the midst of a busy season of life.

- C. J. Redwine

- CJ Redwine (@cjredwine) • Instagram photos and videos

Encourage Others Daily

Thank you, CJ! I know I needed that advice.

Her words are honest and supportive, and the best part is, they offer a simple way to get past being busy and still minister to others.

This brings to mind Hebrews 3:13, which says, “But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called ‘today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

We often let days go by without actually offering any encouragement to anyone. Yikes! Let’s take CJ’s advice—and most importantly, the Holy Spirit’s command—and encourage someone every day. Make a list. Send a text. It’s that simple. It takes very little time.

We Keep Each Other Safe

Let’s not miss the why behind the command in Hebrews 3:13: so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Wow. The encouragement we give to fellow believers actually helps keep them from sin.

Did you know you (yes, you) play a vital role in the wellbeing of your friends? The writer of Hebrews says you do. We should take those words seriously and apply them to our lives.

I know I’ve been convicted by CJ’s words (and the words of Hebrews, which I happened to be reading this morning, before I wrote this post—funny how God does that). I love her practical advice here, and I plan to implement it.

We Help Others See Sin

Sin is deceitful, the Bible says. That means we don’t always see it coming. We may not even see it when it’s all around us. We might very well be wallowing in sin and yet cramming our hands over our eyes and refusing to see it.

This is where a friend can help. We can encourage each other to see the sins we might not have spotted on our own or the ones we’re purposefully ignoring. Notice that the writer of Hebrews doesn’t say condemn or yell at. We are to encourage each other, and that encouragement is what drives us away from sin.

Sin also hardens. If we let ourselves be deceived by sin long enough, we’ll start to see that sin as not so bad. We’ll start to become indifferent to it. We’ll become hardened to the truth.

As Christians, we should raise our fists at that idea! Heaven forbid we let our friends and fellow saints fall victim to the hardness that comes from Satan’s clever lies. We must do our part to keep our brothers and sisters on the lookout for sneaky sins and sly lies. We’ve got to help each other stay receptive to the truth so we avoid becoming hardened by sin.

Are you ready to do that? Are you excited at the prospect of coming alongside your friends in the faith and helping them avoid the deceitfulness of sin?

If so, then you are ready to start ministering to others via daily encouragement.

How then do we encourage one another?

Let me be clear on this: encouraging each other is not slapping them with a motivational, you-can-do-it quote (or, worse, posting one of those on your Insta and calling it good).

True encouragement comes in the form of scripture-rich reminders and grace-filled guidance. If the result of true encouragement is so that someone may avoid the deceitfulness of sin, then that encouragement must contain truth and be motivated by the truth.

Scripture is our only source of truth; thus, Christian encouragement must be full of scripture and come from a heart motivated by the Word of God.

When sending that quick, daily text to check up on someone, you should do so from the joyful viewpoint that you are helping that person avoid the hardness that comes from the deceitfulness of sin.

Consider how you can best do this. Maybe it’s by sharing a verse that you think will uplift them. Maybe it’s by praying for them via text. That way they know you are actually praying for them. Maybe it’s by sending them a link to a worship song, which helps redirect their minds to Christ.

Whatever we do, our encouragement should be aimed at turning both our own eyes and the eyes of the one we’re coming alongside toward Jesus our Savior. Because once we focus on Him, the deceitfulness of sin no longer becomes a threat.

If you enjoyed this post, check out this one from author and business owner, Kayla Nelsen on the importance of mentors.

Now, go send some encouragement! Also, as a means of encouragement, consider posting this to your favorite social media page or sending it to someone via email. You guys are vital to this blog, and I appreciate each one of you.