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Month: March 2020

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How to Eliminate Hurry

I was listening to The Ziglar Show Podcast with Kevin Miller the other day while on my daily walk. Miller interviewed John Mark Comer about his recent book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Comer was leading a megachurch that was running six services each Sunday in the Portland, Oregon area. He was finding himself burnt out and unconnected with the people around him when he reached out to a mentor for advice. His mentor shared “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. There is nothing else.” Out of that, his book was born. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: Staying Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in Our Current Chaos.  

John Mark shared that he believes “Hurry is incompatible with love, joy, and peace that are at the center of Jesus’ vision for life in the Kingdom of God.” 

In this podcast, Kevin and John Mark discuss four key practices we can begin using to eliminate hurry: 

  • Silence and Solitude
  • Sabbath
  • Simplicity
  • Slowing 

I have been working on these four practices for about a year now. I still have a long way to go. Some days are difficult. I haven’t “mastered” these four practices, yet I find myself desiring to live a life more centered on Jesus. 

I would encourage you, especially during the COVID19 Crisis, to take some time and begin to slow down. Spend time in solitude and silence – choose a time of day and find a place to “Be Still”. Take time to delight in the Sabbath rest. What would happen if you would unplug from your phone for 24 hours?  Living simply shouldn’t be too difficult right now with school and all activities put on hold. How could you start to eliminate hurry in your life? 

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Doubt

Photo of a peaceful pond on a partly cloudy, peaceful day

Doubt;  a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction. 

A little over a year ago, I made the decision to schedule a personal retreat day once a quarter.  I knew I needed time away from ministry to be still and to listen to God. It was a warm July day. As I sat quietly, I opened my Bible and began reading this passage found in Matthew.  

“But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage. I am here!’

Then Peter called to him, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.‘

‘Yes, come,’ Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!’ he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?‘”

Matthew 14:27-31 NLT

Later that afternoon, I decided I would go for a walk. There was a pond with a pier that went about twenty feet out onto the water. I decided to sit down and soak up some sun. I began praying.

All of a sudden, God gave me the image of a storm we encountered on the way home from visiting friends in Chicago the weekend before. I had never been in a car during such a terrible storm.  We literally had to pull over to the side of the road —we could not see in front of us.

As I was remembering that storm, God spoke to me, “Your soul is like that storm right now. See the calm water before you … this is your soul when you are abiding in me. I am calling you out on this water to come to me.”

I sat and wept because I know He was calling me to trust Him and step out of the boat just like he was calling out to Peter. 

I don’t know about you, but I often display doubt when being faced with a decision. I knew God was asking me to step away from my ministry role. He had even given me a date. When I asked, “what’s next, God?” He quickly answered, “Trust me, where is your faith?” Wow. Just like Jesus reprimanded Peter for not trusting him to walk out onto the water, Jesus was reprimanding me. 

It was another three months before I finally took that step of faith, and it has been eight months since that warm July day.  God continues to remind me to trust him. He continues to give me peace in knowing that I did the right thing by stepping out of the boat. 

Have you ever been afraid to step out of the boat, in fear of the unknown? Are you letting fear and doubt rob you of your God-given purpose? I’m here to say, Jesus loves you and wants what is best for you. He is for you and He will be with you. Now, get out of the boat! 

Photo of a fierce storm I took from my car between Chicago and Indianapolis
Photo of a storm I encountered between Chicago and Indianapolis
Photo of a peaceful pond on a partly cloudy day
Photo of the peaceful pond where I heard God speak to me.
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Reset—COVID-19

Title Banner: Reset—COVID-19

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'”

Matthew 28:28-30 (NLT)

In recent days, we have seen our nation turned upside down due to the COVID-19 Virus. Never before has our generation seen such an interruption to life. We have seen…

  • Vacation attractions like Walt Disney World close,
  • Professional sports teams postpone their regular seasons
  • Schools being closed indefinitely
  • Large gatherings suspended.

People are panicking. Grocery stores and large retailers are seeing an onset of people rushing to buy things like hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and toilet paper.

As I sit and think about all these things, I’m curious as to what God’s invitation could be for us during this time? We live in such a busy culture. Could this be an invitation for us to stop and hit the RESET button?

Holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boom once said, “If the devil can’t make you sin, he will make you busy!” Sin and busyness can keep us from a relationship with God. Friends, Jesus wants us to take time to be with him and allow us the opportunity to grow in our relationship with him. As my pastor, Steve Southards said this morning in his sermon, “God is more interested in who you are becoming than what you are doing!“

Think of the possibilities

  • Maybe this is a season we can reclaim a quiet time.
  • Maybe this is a season we can reclaim family mealtime.
  • Maybe this is a season you and your family spend time each week writing encouraging notes to loved ones.

Pray about ways God may be inviting you so slow down and push the RESET button. We have the opportunity to stop, take a deep breath and push RESET. What about you? What is God’s invitation to you during this time?