“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10a
There may be no greater killer of progress and joy than stress. Busyness and fatigue lead to discouraging thoughts and eventually the demise of your commitments to yourself. Take some time during your week to pray... meditate on scripture... take a deep breath... get alone...
Even Jesus did this. He knew the value of getting away and regrouping. I can already hear you screaming at your iPad... “Pastor.. my day is WAY too hectic for meditation or solitude”
Then I would say that your day is way too busy.
I have found in my 20+ years of ministry that people do what they want to do. If they think it’s valuable enough, they’ll make the time no matter what they have to adjust. You must first value “being still” before you’ll make it part of your day. Trust me... once you start, you’ll wonder what took you so long. Remember, as I’ve said before in my teachings, life is rhythmic. There are notes and rests... and if you only play all fast notes... the music of life becomes noise. Rests are as important in beautiful melodies as tones... play both. In doing so, your blood pressure will improve, you’ll find the margin to accomplish more, and those things that used to drive you crazy will seem less important than they used to.
Sometimes the most holy thing you can do is sleep. Pace yourself friends… this marathon we run is meant to be taken in 24 hour chunks. Don’t borrow trouble from next week or even two hours from now. Stop. Breathe. Rest. If you don’t intentionally do it, nobody is going to stop you and make you. No more kindergarten nap times or chances to put your heads down on your desks. You’re running very hard. Stop along the way to not only smell the roses… but enjoy their beauty. Soak in life… make memories… and remember that your Heavenly Father has got your back no matter what.
Now THAT’S a reason to rest easy!
