Lenten Journey – Day 36
This week marks the beginning of an even busier season for me and my family. Over the next 6 weeks I will:
- Travel to Mexico for a missions trip (April 2 – 6).
- Celebrate Easter – the biggest and busiest holiday of the year (April 12).
- Launch a new sermon-based small group experience (we call them GPS groups).
- Travel to Orlando for the Exponential Church Planting Conference (April 19 – 24).
- Speak at the missions banquet for Glory Baptist Church in Aitkin (April 28).
- Facilitate the Fireproof Your Marriage conference (May 1 – 2).
- Facilitate a pastor’s leadership retreat (May 11 – 12).
- All the while we are caring for a friend’s baby for the next two weeks.
Whew! I’m getting tired just typing all of that. Already this week it has been very hard to slow down, take time for God, listen to His voice, meditate on His Word, with all the things on my mind – especially the list of stuff I have to get done before leaving for Mexico on Thursday.
I guess that’s why they call certain Christian practices, “disciplines.” Because they are not only contrary to the sinful nature, they are contrary to our culture and society. To slow down amidst all the busyness of life feels like trying to stop a freight train with a laso. A lot of times we just get taken along for the ride.
Although I’m not an expert by any means on the art of slowing down, I have been in a much better rhythm over this Lent season and I am confident that I would crash and burn over the next 6 weeks if I hadn’t been laying the necessary spiritual foundation over the past five weeks.
I just want to share one little tidbit that I have found useful in being able to slow down – pray, meditate, and study God’s Word – in the midst of chaos. Many people struggle with staying focused on God when there is much on the agenda to be accomplished. I am certainly no exception to this. So what I do is I keep a note pad beside me as I’m praying, reading, etc. and jot down any task as it comes to mind. The second thing I do is pray about that task. I incorporate it into my prayers. This does two things. First, writing it down gets it out of my mind so I can return to focusing on God. Second, praying about it takes that item “captive” and surrenders it to Christ.
So when distractions come when you’re trying to pray or read the Bible, don’t feel guilty about it and try to deny it. Just jot it down and surrender it to God. You’ll find it much easier to slow down the train.
Today’s Prayer:
Father, I give you every thought, every desire, every task that needs to be accomplished,
And I surrender them all to you.
Let me lose myself in your presence for just this moment in time.
Then grant me the strength and focus I need to work effectively and efficiently at all that is before me.
And in everything I do, may you be glorified.
