Let’s admit it. Americans today are living in fast-paced times. There is a flurry of activity constantly around us beckoning for our attention and involvement. Many of these are not bad in and of themselves, but too much of a good thing can leave us frazzled and exhausted. What do we think we are accomplishing as we race through life at break-neck speeds? We may think we are achieving more, but in reality we are receiving less. Our race through life is causing us to miss many wonderful opportunities to connect with others on a deeper level as well as opportunities to learn and grow. A life based on urgency, speed, and productivity demands a high price both emotionally and spiritually, not to mention, physically. It can leave us overwhelmed and unfulfilled with life. Furthermore, it causes us chose the “urgent” over the “important” things in life—things like spending quality time with the ones we love, reflecting on our purpose, and pursuing a closer relationship with God. I once read the acronym for BUSY is “Being Under Satan’s Yoke.” It is true that he would love nothing more than to fill our lives with such business and clutter that we miss the true purpose for our existence—to love and glorify God.
There is tremendous power in slowing down to give oneself “sacred pauses” throughout the day. While life will continue to move swiftly by, we do have a choice in how we fast we move with it. However, we must make a deliberate choice to slow down or we, too, will move as quickly as it does with little time to breathe in between. May I suggest seven tips for taking these sacred little pauses.
1. Sit still. Find a spot in your home or garden to withdraw from your busy day and sit for at least 10 minutes. Do this every day at least once a day—twice if needed. Take a break and spend time with God. Sit and do nothing! Or, whisper prayers to God; or, watch and listen to the birds; or, close your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on your face.
2. At the beginning of each new month as you fill in your calendar, mark a red X over 1 day on the calendar. Don’t fill this day with appointments or any other obligation. Give yourself permission to spend this day on yourself to do whatever you please. Consider this your sacred time, and do not feel guilty for indulging in it. Be fully alive and enjoy this special gift to yourself.
3. Embrace the mundane acts such as washing dishes, doing laundry, walking the dog, etc. Be fully aware that God is present in these moments just as much as He is when you are on your knees. Consider these mundane acts a form of prayer and invite Him into them too. Every ordinary moment is sacred if you invite God into it. Don’t miss the miracles there.
4. Hit the pause button. Let’s face it—we all hate to wait. Waiting implies wasting time, but instead of getting anxious the next time you have to wait in line…embrace the moment. Talk to the person next to you or offer up a prayer for someone in need. Embrace these slower moments as a gift and allow your mind to slow down a bit. Take in the scenery, or make a point of looking into someone’s face to smile at them. Hitting the pause button isn’t about achieving more, but receiving more. Give up the urgency and relish each sacred moment.
5. Lose what you don’t need. Get rid of stuff. Clutter fills your life. It wastes time and has the potential to leave you frazzled and exhausted. There is something stifling about the significance we attach to “stuff.” Why do we think we need more stuff to be happy or secure? Go through your house one room at a time and de-clutter. Throw away and get rid of what you don’t need. Better yet, donate it to a worthy cause. Then notice how liberating it feels to be clutter-free!
6. Recognize God’s presence. If we slow down enough and pay attention, we will discover that God is everywhere, even in the unkempt and often misunderstood. At the end of each day review what happened and look for places where you saw God’s presence. Allow yourself to see and receive God beyond the ideas and things you're certain of. Ask God to enlighten you and give you increased awareness of His everyday presence. You just might be amazed at how present He is even in the insignificant events that occur.
7. Rediscover the “kid” in you. Inside each one of us is enormous potential as God created us with unique talents and abilities. Reflect on how He made you and how you can use your uniqueness to glorify Him. Somewhere along life’s way we tend to become guarded and allow our fears to restrict us. Eventually we dismiss that we have anything valuable to offer. Let your guard down, and don’t worry about what others think. Ask God to help you rediscover your passions and then glorify Him through them.
I find it very interesting that even Jesus withdrew by himself daily to a solitary place where He could be alone and talk to His Father. If He found it necessary to take "time out" to refresh Himself, how much more do we need to!!!
"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." Mark 6:31-32
"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16
No comments:
Post a Comment