“Take a breath”

Hello again, I have a question for you. Have you ever needed to just stop and take a breath? I certainly have. My life is very fast-paced. It's a constant series of meetings and sermon preparation.

Often, in the middle of all that busyness, I lose my joy.

I heard a long time ago from a really good friend that if the devil can't make you bad, he'll make you busy! That’s true!

I believe the antidote to busyness and the key to ruthlessly eliminate hurry is to take God up on His invitation to go away with Him and rest for a little while.

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 23. It says, "He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:2-3, ESV)

What I know is this: unless I take Jesus up on his offer for rest, I can often miss out on incredible opportunities to connect with him… AND my weariness only multiplies.

There's a series of verses in scripture that have always intrigued me.

The Bible says in Mark 6:30, "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught." (Mark 6:30, NIV) This group of men was telling Jesus how busy they had been. It was all good things, but they were exhausted.

Verse 31 says, "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.'" (Mark 6:31, NIV)

This verse hits home because, to be honest, last week, I forgot to eat lunch on four out of five days. That was evidence to me that my life was going way too fast, and that, in all of that busyness, God kept saying, "Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest."

Verse 32 is what amazes me. It says, "So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." (Mark 6:32, NIV)

The truth of the story is that in the next couple of moments, many people are going to find them and interrupt their quiet solitude. But, that doesn't change the heart of Jesus! He wants us to join him in those quiet, solitary places.

So, wherever you are, right here, right now, could you take five minutes and just BE with Jesus? Could you put aside your to-do list or your master task list and just rest in His presence for a moment?

One of my favorite things to do is to sit on my back deck. It's very quiet in my backyard, and I often pray a simple prayer, "Father God, speak to me."

I'm amazed at how God speaks through the sound of running water, the wind in the trees, and the voice of my wife, as we sit quietly together and soak in all of God's beautiful gifts. I hope and pray you'll take some time today. That you won't be so in a hurry that you miss out on God's invitation.

Take five minutes right now. Take a deep breath, open your heart, and pray that simple prayer, "Father God, speak to me."

Never forget, you are a miracle.