Day #2 of 30 Days to Breakthrough – Slowing down
Welcome to Day #2 of your “30 Days To Breakthrough” journey.
Yesterday, we began addressing the issue of Stewarding Your TIME. We learned the importance of Redeeming The Time, what that means, why it’s so important, and some simple ways to do that.
If you missed that lesson, please go back and catch up. Do it NOW!
Here is your daily quote, lesson, question, link, and prayer.
QUOTE
The unexamined life is not worth living! — Socrates
LESSON
In his book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” John Ortberg teaches spiritual disciplines for ordinary people.
In Chapter 5 titled “An Unhurried Life,” John explains “the practice of ’slowing’.” He states that not long after moving to Chicago, he called the wisest spiritual mentor he has ever known to ask for spiritual direction. John described the pace at which things tended to move in his current setting. He told about the rhythms of his family life and the present condition of his heart. Then John asked what he needed to do to be spiritually healthy. After a long pause, the wise mentor answered “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” After writing down that lesson, John asked “Now what else is there?” Another long pause and then the answer came “There is nothing else.”
John states: “The lives of the hurry-sick lack simplicity. Hurried people cannot love. Today we have largely traded wisdom for information. Love and hurry are incompatible. Jesus never hurried. Solitude is the remedy for the busyness that charms.”
To be spiritually healthy, you must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life!
And journaling is one of the best disciplines to slow down your RPM’s from 10,000 to 5,000 to 500.
QUESTION (write down your what comes to your heart)
Lord, what one simple action step can I take to slow down the pace of my life.
LINK of the Day
An Unhurried Life
Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, I praise as the great I AM, the God who wants me to be still to know You. I confess that the pace of my life is too fast. It seems the harder I work, the further behind I get. Will You help me to slow down to smell the roses. I need your help. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Blessings to use journaling to slow down and reflect!
Randy, thank you, for this 30 days to breakthrough is already paying dividends in my life as I have responded in obedience. First was in writing down on three pieces of paper the 4-T’s. Immediately the Lord had me add under the 4th-Temple(body) food – rest – exercise, which I was mindful that the Lord was calling to my attention for sometime. We, NO, I am subject to let some things slide from their place of value when I am not faced with personal accountability by others around me.
These weeks of snow have allowed me to ease up on myself. Little did I realize that it was the Lord’s plan to remove business from my life – “eliminate hurry from my life” in order that I may see from His perspective (laziness) and not my own (too much to do). I am full of expectation of what the Lord will reveal as the days progress.
The statement, “Hurried people cannot love!” is true. I have traveled this road and know one doesn’t have time to love as they want in their hearts to express. SLOW UP!
.-= Bertha Hinson´s last blog ..REDEEMING TIME–30 days to Breakthrough =-.
My goodness, Randy. Today’s focus on ‘SLOWING DOWN’ hit me right between the eyes where I live: in the state of busyness!! How timely. God’s timing is perfect and I am so grateful He put it in your heart to do this 30 days to breakthrough course.
I have known for a long time I am too busy even though I think I’m doing “good things.” Even in doing good things for the Lord, God still wants us to live a balanced life. This has always been a challenge for me. If we don’t slow down and examine our life it will certainly keep spinning by at a dizzying speed and nothing will change.
When I asked the Lord about it He simply told me to stop and take a deep breath and ask Him what is necessary in each moment. He told me to slow my pace and turn my eyes to Him so He could tell me what to keep and what to cut out. His way is so simple and yet so profound. If we listen and obey we will be sure to leave an “EXTRAVAGANT LEGACY” that has Jesus written all over it and others will be drawn to partake of that kind of living for eternal Kingdom purposes!
.-= Nancy Slocum´s last blog ..Welcome to “30 Days to Breakthrough” =-.
Hi Bertha, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughtful comments about slowing down with the world on the Your Daily Blessing blog. Personal accountability is important to each of us. In fact, that is the password to our future. I certainly don’t profess to have my act completely together. As I write each of these messages in the “30 Days To Breakthrough: series, the Holy Spirit is working on me to refine these areas of my life too. Blessings to SLOW DOWN and be a godly steward with your temple of the Holy Spirit. Randy
Hi Nancy, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with the world on my blog post about SLOWING DOWN. I too find myself drifting intermittently into the unhealthy world of busyness. It’s a constant struggle to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from my life. I agree with you that a key to slowing down is to ask God moment by moment, “What do you want me to do RIGHT NOW?” Blessings to overcome and SLOW DOWN! Randy
Day 2 of 30 Days to Breakthrough – Slowing Down
Lord, what are we going to do today? What would please you?
It would greatly please Me if you would simply REJOICE in this day I have made and we both will be blessed!
Lord, what one simple action step can I take to slow down the pace of my life?
By taking the time to REJOICE IN ME and this day – this one 24 hour period that will never be duplicated, you will be slowing down your pace.
Savor this day. Savor the simple pleasures of life. Time spent with a friend. A smile to a stranger. A touch or an encouraging word. These are the moments that connect people together and weave the fabric of your life.
Make it a rich tapestry by collecting special moments of grace I have supplied to those who have an awareness and appreciation and love for Me who has created all that is for you to enjoy.
You love Me when you slow down and take time to appreciate what My hand has provided for you from My heart of love for you! That’s how WE CONNECT and CREATE A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE.
Know that YOU are loved and then SHARE it with others to complete the circle of eternity of My love in you for Me and for each other
.-= Abigail Slocum´s last blog ..#WFJ: The Love Connection =-.