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Hurriedness.

The concept of rushing and resting have crossed my path repeatedly for a week now. It’s what happens when one reads two books at the same time.

The struggle with balancing several plates at the same time and hurrying from one thing to another seems to plague many. In the book, The Good and Beautiful God, the author labels it “hurry sickness.” He correctly addresses the fact that this is an inner attitude we bring upon ourselves. In our constant state of hurrying, we are robbing ourselves of being present in the current moment.

And in missing the present moment, we miss what God has for us in this moment.

clock-1528798_640Have you ever noticed that God does not seem to be in a hurry? He created time. He is sovereign over time. He takes His time.

And Jesus? He also slowed down His activity in order to spend time alone with His Father. He knew it was critical to listen to what God was speaking to Him. As we slow down, we gain wisdom as we hear the Spirit’s soft whisper.

Here is where the two books collide. In her book, Rhythms of Rest, Shelly Miller writes:

“Sabbath is an invitation for intimate conversation. It is an intentional quieting, transforming information into tangible experience, into words and sentences that harness our purpose and calling.”

Growth, especially spiritual growth, takes time. Change is slow but it comes and it does take place in our lives. It comes over steadily and faithfully slowing down and spending time with God – in His Word and in prayer.

Let’s slow down and ask the Lord to heal us of our “hurry sickness”.

In “Good and Beautiful God”, the author makes note of several practical ways we can practice slowing down. I think the easiest, and the hardest, suggestion in the list was to intentionally get in the slowest lane driving, and the longest line at the checkout in a store. This one is sure to be a “test” for me and reveal how progressed the disease of hurry has become in my life. A stop at the post office should do it for me later today .

What will you do to practice slowing down today (and moving forward)?

I loved this quote the author shares:

“It seems that most believers have difficulty in realizing and facing up to the inexorable fact that God does not hurry in His development of our Christian life. He is working from and for eternity!” (Miles J. Stanford).

Should you need proof of this, Paul tells us,

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6, NLT)

hurry

May we all have a beautiful and “slow” day in Jesus!

 

Today I am joining … Testimony Tuesday and #RaRaLinkup and Unite .