Last summer I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Judy Dunagan, a previous Women’s Ministry director. She had served in that role for many years, keeping busy teaching women’s Bible studies, planning conferences, and encouraging other women to put their hope in Jesus.

She shares on her website, “But in the midst of all that out-of-breath-serving-Him-busyness­, I realized that I missed Him.” She prayed to the Lord, “I’m so busy serving You, but I’m not sure I really know You. Make me desperate for You!”

As I was driving to work one morning this week, I was thinking about her words and example. Lately, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with all that needs to be done – all good things, but I don’t want the DOING to replace the BEING with Him.

I don’t want to become so busy that I have no time for Him – the One I’m doing these things for. I want the DOING to be an outflow of BEING with Him.

Being busy for Him (DOING) is good – but not if it replaces or hinders BEING with Him, taking time alone with Him and deepening our relationship, acknowledging our neediness and dependence on Him.

This morning I was reading a prayer from The Valley of Vision (“The Personal Touch,” 238-239) that reflects the cry of my heart:

“May I lay at Thy feet these fruits grown in Thy garden,
love Thee with a passion that can never cool,
believe in Thee with a confidence that never staggers,
hope in Thee with an expectation that can never be dim,
delight in Thee with a rejoicing that cannot be stifled,
glorify Thee with the highest of my powers,
burning, blazing, glowing, radiating, as from Thy own glory.”

Jesus told the Ephesian church in Revelation 2:4: “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

I don’t want to lose my first love, but to grow more in love with Jesus every day. In order to do that, I need to make sure the DOING doesn’t take priority over the BEING with Him.

Maybe you’re feeling the same way – so busy DOING that the BEING with Him is taking a back seat. What helps you keep the DOING and BEING balanced in your life? What helps you keep Him as your first love?