In keeping with our Lifesprings International annual tradition, all of our leaders and members will be celebrating a month of sabbath rest from all regularly scheduled meetings, we call “Breather Month” during August. We invite all of our readers to join us in setting aside intentionally planned times of rest, restoration, and renewal, with God during August. Our reflection for this week will be centered on the theme of encouraging rest from the hurried pace of life to slowing down.
Listen:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9, NIVUK)
Reflect:
To apply this verse takes time. Personally, I struggle because I have a sense of hurry and hurry is not compatible with contemplation.
So, what is this moment right now for? Should I be doing something else? Am I stuck in the habit of hurrying?
Let’s consider the difference between being busy and being in a hurry:
I remember watching my little son being busy in the garden. He spent hours busily making roads for his toy cars, digging holes, playing with slugs and beetles, arranging pebbles and daisies. He was busy learning and playing, but he wasn’t in a hurry. On one such busy day, I heard him praying spontaneously. He was playing happily with a toy truck, stopped, put his chubby little hands together, closed his eyes and said with a smile, “Jesus, my truck” then went back to his game. In his unhurried busyness he stopped to give thanks for his toy.
There is nothing wrong with being busy if being busy means being occupied doing just now whatever it is best to be doing just now – working, playing, praying, resting…
The bible tells us to be busy working for the Lord and even warns us against idleness. The bible also tells us to rest and to pray. These are everyday essentials.
Biblical references to hurrying, are mostly about fleeing in an emergency or rushing to meet a loved one.
What happens to the way we think, communicate and notice beauty when we are in a hurry?
Hurry has its place, but it isn’t a sustainable healthy lifestyle. If hurry becomes a chronic habit, what happens to our relationships? What happens to our listening to God and to our spontaneous reflex to worship Him?
In this breather month, can we slow down a little and take a break from hurrying?
Let’s read that passage again – without hurrying:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 NIVUK
What stirs in your heart when you read this verse attentively and prayerfully?
Prayer of Response:
Lord, thank you for the goodness in this world. Thank you for kind people and beautiful places. Thank you for your awesome, powerful, yet gentle love Father God. Lord, forgive me for being in too much of a hurry to remember you. Teach me to be attentive to your rhythms for my life: working and resting and worshipping you at the right times and in the right ways. Amen
Questions to Ponder:
- How can you slow down this month and reduce the hurry?
- Are there ways you can reduce the hurry after breather month?
- What is the best thing to be doing with this one minute?
—Submitted by: Sylvana Botterill
Sylvana joined Lifesprings at its beginning in France and is now living in the UK. She serves on the Lifesprings UK team, the Lifesprings International Prayer team and the LSM Nairobi Prayer team. She is passionate about empowering people to live in faith and service. She also loves outdoor sports.
(Feature photo taken by Sylvana Botterill)