When you slow down, you will feel calmer and have time to spend with Jesus.
You remember one of the Lord’s most famous invitations to rest, don’t you?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Jesus says “will give you rest.” This means it’s a God-given promise. He spoke it to Jews burdened by their own spiritual bankruptcy and by their hope to save themselves by keeping the Mosaic Law.
But salvation doesn’t come not works. Rather, salvation comes through faith by grace. You can do nothing to earn it. Click & Tweet! It’s a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once a believer is saved, God sanctifies her, making her more like Jesus and calling her–and you and me–to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way” (Colossians 1:10).
In this article, you’ll hear five simple ways to slow down. Today’s age of distration tempts you to update your Facebook status every other minute, doesn’t it? Then you’ll hear a plan to implement a new habit of slowing down.
5 Simple Ways to Slow Down
1. In every way imaginable, SLOW DOWN: Walk slower. Drive slower. Think before you speak. James 1:19 says,
Be quick to listen, slow to speak.
2. SCHEDULE FREE TIME. On purpose have nothing to do for a half-hour here and a half-hour there. Use this free time to watch birds or play tic-tac-toe with your child or read Scripture or draw.
3. Take time to ANTICIPATE. You can anticipate special events like birthdays or a daytrip to the lake or the city when you space them out. If you jam your calendar, you run from one activity to the next. You have no time to anticipate.
4. CHAT with a neighbor or co-worker about little things: her children or grandchildren, the latest book she read, her favorite hobby, and so on. As you deepen your relationship with your neighbor or coworker, you show love to her.
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)
5. UNPLUG from television, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media for a week. Is a week too long? How about a single day?
What would you add to these slow-down suggestions? What has worked for you?
Plan to Slow Down
Forming a new habit to slow down takes thought and planning. God plans. When you plan, you imitate him. Click & Tweet!Sadly, many Christians today don’t know how to put their faith into practice. Let’s say godly parents want their preteen to consistently put away her shoes when she comes indoors, but she leaves them them in the kitchen day after day. What would you recommend they do? And why? (I’ll tackle this topic in a future blog post.)
Let’s start with a two concepts for slowing down or any new habit: goals and scheduling.
- What is the long-range goal of slowing down? What are short-term goals (or objectives) that help you meet your long-range goal?
- Did you know that without a schedule of how you’ll attain your goals, your efforts will most likely faill?
You can sense God’s goal-setting in Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” The goal? Redemption. The schedule? When the time had fully come.
Design Your Plan
First, prayerfully and biblically define your goal. Your long-range goal might be, “Spend my time wisely,” based on this verse:
“Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” Ephesians 5:15-16
Second, determine your short-term goals. This might include study a bible passage each morning at 7 a.m., turn off the cell phone at all meals and after 8 p.m., and take a walk or work in the garden daily, weather permitting.
Third, before you implement your goal, jot down everything you do and their start and end times for a week (or at least 3 days). Use a small spiral notebook that you can easily keep with you,.
Fourth, review your time use. Identify possible obstacles and solutions to meeting your short-term goals. For example, a possible obstacle to studying a bible passage at 7 a.m. may be hectic mornings at your home. A possible solution: study the passage at during part of your lunch break.
Lastly, try out your slow-down plan and review it in a week. Make adjustments as needed. And celebrate your success in slowing down!
Sharing Hope with Your Heart,
