Slow Down

Summer is in full bloom and I’m pretty sure I saw a back to school commercial the other day.  I know a lot of schools go back earlier now however it’s still summer, let’s not rush through it.

Do you ever feel like you are being rushed through your day?  Almost as if you are rushing just to keep up.  I’ve noticed when my schedule is full and I have things to do and places to be the days just fly by.  When my schedule is less full and I have less places to be I can be intentional and present.

There is a balance we are to live in.  While God calls us to not be lazy, we also need to make sure we are taking time to not only rest but enjoy the many blessings that God provides for us each day.

From an early morning sunrise to a full moon at night there are so many blessings in between.  When we are busy and focused on the next thing before it’s here, we miss out on being aware of these blessings, big and small, because our minds are preoccupied.

We can look at scripture and see how God rested after creation.  Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.  God didn’t rest because he needed to.  God rested to show us the importance of resting.  If we further look, we learn that God does not get tired.  Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The God Who lives forever is the Lord, the One Who made the ends of the earth. He will not become weak or tired. His understanding is too great for us to begin to know.  Going further we see we too are called to rest.  Mark 6:31 “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”We see this as well in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take time today to be intentional in looking for Gods blessings throughout your day.  Whatever you have planned today give yourself the grace to slow down.

Living a life constantly on the go and already focused on what’s next before your current “thing” is over puts you in overdrive.  This way of living does not leave time to rest, relax, and simply just be. 

Ask yourself when was the last time that you were able to sit and be present in the moment, whether alone or surrounded by others.

It’s still summer and not too late to slow down to be able make memories to be cherished instead of a summer that flew by with a vague remembrance of what occurred, other than you were busy.

How is God calling you to slow down and rest today?