Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Listen to the Word

He says, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  (Psalm 46:10)

Today's Biblical time management guideline flies in the face of conventional wisdom: slow down. Be still so God can remind you that he is God. This is not the advice you would expect to hear at a time management seminar. You might expect that the key is to speed up, work harder, do more, and do it more quickly. But part of God's original time management strategy is etched in stone in the Ten Commandments: Remember the Sabbath. Take a day off every week. You aren't wasting time chopping wood when you stop to sharpen your axe. Even God took a day off after six days of creation, and he designed us to work in a rhythm of work and rest.

One of the striking things about Jesus is that he was never in a hurry. He was never frazzled with too much to do - too many lepers to heal, too many disciples to teach. People around him were always panicking: Come quick, my child is sick... These people are hungry... Do something before we drown... Hurry up and help Lazarus! But Jesus just strolled along, stopping to talk to a blind beggar, showing kindness to a sick woman, taking a nap, enjoying a meal. Jesus was often busy, but he was never hurried. We would do well to follow his example. We need to slow down!

Live the Word

Right now, slow down and take a five minute break with God. Read some Scripture, do some praying, or just rest for a moment.