One of the huge pressures of life in today's world is "so much to do, so little time". Each of us is given twenty-four hours, and how we use them is largely up to us. Sometimes it doesn't feel like we are in control though, when there are so many things we "ought" or need to do.
When I was a young mum... about a hundred years ago... I had posted behind the toilet door a pretty poster with the words of a poem that I have since found out (in the days of Google) was written by one Wilfred Arlon Peterson. Here are the first few lines.
Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams
that live in my memory. Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations - of slowing down to look at a flower,
to chat with a friend,
to pat a dog,
to read a few lines from a good book...
I was blessed to be a full-time mum while my children were growing up, but I obviously still felt the pressure of time. Though it must have been quite unlike the pressures today, my heart was crying out for the Lord to slow me down. It is only now, all those years later, that I am learning - or yielding - to trust God in this. You will often hear people who have retired say, "I don't know how I found time to work." Even retirement can be busy and demanding, depending on how much we put into our calendar, or allow others to do so.
I have always enjoyed offering hospitality to people but it often became a nightmare for poor Col as I became stressed about getting everything done "right". Oh dear! But that is what happens, isn't it? The people around us pay a price for the pressure we put upon ourselves.
In very recent years I have begun to love, love, love The Message version of Matthew 11:28-30, and maybe it will grab you too. Jesus says...
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
If you feel it's impossible to come to Jesus and get away with him, can I encourage you to ask God how to do that. Allow him to somehow rearrange your programme so that you can learn the unforced rhythms of grace from him.
He "stopped for the one", as Heidi Baker says. He also often went aside, alone, to talk to his Father in heaven.
All these years later, I am still growing and learning. It never stops, but the peace I am finding in trying to walk with Jesus in these unforced rhythms of grace is something I long for you to find too. To discover the place where we find peace and joy, strength and patience and all those wonderful fruits of the Spirit, that hopefully bring joy and glory to God.
Let's pray together: Jesus, help me to come away with you, leave my burdens with you, to ask your wisdom and your help for each day. Help me to walk in your unforced rhythms of grace.
Amen.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
One of the huge pressures of life in today's world is "so much to do, so little time". Each of us is given twenty-four hours, and how we use them is largely up to us. Sometimes it doesn't feel like we are in control though, when there are so many things we "ought" or need to do.
When I was a young mum... about a hundred years ago... I had posted behind the toilet door a pretty poster with the words of a poem that I have since found out (in the days of Google) was written by one Wilfred Arlon Peterson. Here are the first few lines.
Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams
that live in my memory. Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations - of slowing down to look at a flower,
to chat with a friend,
to pat a dog,
to read a few lines from a good book...
I was blessed to be a full-time mum while my children were growing up, but I obviously still felt the pressure of time. Though it must have been quite unlike the pressures today, my heart was crying out for the Lord to slow me down. It is only now, all those years later, that I am learning - or yielding - to trust God in this. You will often hear people who have retired say, "I don't know how I found time to work." Even retirement can be busy and demanding, depending on how much we put into our calendar, or allow others to do so.
I have always enjoyed offering hospitality to people but it often became a nightmare for poor Col as I became stressed about getting everything done "right". Oh dear! But that is what happens, isn't it? The people around us pay a price for the pressure we put upon ourselves.
In very recent years I have begun to love, love, love The Message version of Matthew 11:28-30, and maybe it will grab you too. Jesus says...
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
If you feel it's impossible to come to Jesus and get away with him, can I encourage you to ask God how to do that. Allow him to somehow rearrange your programme so that you can learn the unforced rhythms of grace from him.
He "stopped for the one", as Heidi Baker says. He also often went aside, alone, to talk to his Father in heaven.
All these years later, I am still growing and learning. It never stops, but the peace I am finding in trying to walk with Jesus in these unforced rhythms of grace is something I long for you to find too. To discover the place where we find peace and joy, strength and patience and all those wonderful fruits of the Spirit, that hopefully bring joy and glory to God.
Let's pray together: Jesus, help me to come away with you, leave my burdens with you, to ask your wisdom and your help for each day. Help me to walk in your unforced rhythms of grace.
Amen.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
