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Embracing slow living

When I had my little man, Shepherd, I realized how hurried my life was. Hurrying to lose the weight. Hurrying to get the groceries, clean the house, get things done, make dinner, squeeze in Bible time in between chores - running through all the things life tosses at us on a daily basis. I was rushing to get to the destination I was going, then having the same intense feelings of being in a hurry to get to the next place. Can you relate? I stopped a couple years ago and thought to myself...what am I always rushing for? I quickly recognized that it isn’t always a physical rush, but a mental one that results in the physical rush. I didn’t want to live another thirty years - or another day, the same way. I was already practicing a minimalistic lifestyle, but I hadn’t quite found a flow of rest throughout the day. Rather, it was whenever I could catch a moment after the baby went down to bed. So I decided to just...start.


The next day I chose to slow down, and I was amazed at what I noticed. I've always been someone who notices beauty in small things. However, choosing to be undistracted and deliberately choose to be unhurried by the to do list felt new. It was as simple as listening to the birds or realizing how fresh it smelled that summer day, with no inhibitions. I had a revelational moment that rest was accessible to me throughout everyday and I got to choose that it could be part of the rhythms of life. It didn't have to be when the long list of things were done, or when the baby went to bed. It could be in the ebb and flow of the everyday moments.


Enjoying every moment became a deep rooted practice that took just that...practice! Moments where I’d stop myself in the midst of rushing through the grocery store to pause and ask myself, why are you going so fast? That caused me to linger more, enjoy and see more and maybe most importantly — focus on being engaged with people in my environment. I began starting conversations and giving multiple compliments in one trip to an appointment. Sharing a laugh with a stranger, or giving our business card to a local shop after chatting for thirty minutes. I suddenly found more opportunities for connection, like chatting with a single mama and making a new friend in the airport, all because I invested my time and took the opportunity. I slowed down and made space for what’s important -- genuine unhurried time in the mundane. It's where God does His best work! There's a reason His word tells us to "Be still and know that He is God" (Psalm 46:10).



I've found there are a few things that have to be adjusted through the process of deciding to live slowly on purpose. The first thing I started to do was reprioritize, but not in the way that you might be thinking. People are Gods priority, including me. I needed to make more slow, methodical space for them - and that included myself! It's creating an open door for communication with God and other people at all times. And yes, it takes longer, but it is so worth it. It took work at first! I was forcing workouts when I was so mom-tired I really needed a rest day for my body. Forcing myself to finish every last bit of chores around the house so my environment could feel completely at peace by my standards, when instead..some is better than none. And that can be enough! The workout might get replaced with snuggling with my son while watching a Disney movie, and the house chores can wait.


Second, I started pausing to ask God what I need. And the answer is almost always more time with Him! I quit missing a day of Bible time here or there when life got hectic, and it transformed the consistency of a joyful perception. Sometimes it's self care, but most of the time it's twenty minutes outside in prayer to figure out what Jesus has to say to me that day. He's in every part of my day, so I needed to carve out more intentional time with Him throughout it with no distractions. Little moments of quiet where I can chat with Him and let Him transform my mind in every moment. If He's the purpose of our lives as Christians, why aren't we making more intentional space for Him throughout every twenty four hour day we have? A quick fifteen minute devotion is one percent of your day. One percent! Shouldn't we be giving him one hundred percent of every moment possible? It gives another perspective to the scripture, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

When we walk, when we sit down, when we rise. That's 100% of our time that we should be dwelling on the truth of Gods word and staying in connection with Him. And we should be doing it with every bit of our heart, soul and strength. Jesus was never hurried, and He always embodied peace and the fruits of the Spirit in every interaction throughout His days on earth, as well as being led by his connection with God in every single moment. Since we have the Holy Spirit in us we should be going about our days the same way!

Over the course of a month of carving out more moments throughout the day to be quiet with God, it changed everything. It takes intention and discipline to do! It was putting away every distraction and intentionally noticing the beauty of nature and thanking Him for it. Or simply asking, "God, who do you want me to pray for right now?". I began walking slower, finding more pockets of true peace, and enjoying things on a deeper level throughout every day, all day. It was (He was) there for me the entire time, I just had to become undistracted, pause and reprioritize. Ultimately, it's recognizing that the mission He wants to accomplish in me and through me is an all day everyday effort and it is for you too! It's an effort that comes with the promise of peace from the Lord, too.


The last thing is savoring. I began savoring more by turning off the mental “on” switch and letting things be. Slowing down while reading to my son, noticing each new word he tries to say. Being aware of each new curiosity he has, singing one extra song he asks for at bedtime, and keeping him up an extra twenty minutes to snuggle him tight. I began lingering longer in prayer with him before bed and rubbing his back to reflect on how fast he’s growing up as each day passes. It’s savoring asking my husband how he's doing and focusing on everything he has to say while relishing in that time together. And of course..savoring my food and thanking God for quality nutrients for my body. It was in the seemingly mundane that I found the most opportunity for joy. One of the most valuable shifts I made, was taking sabbaths on Sundays seriously. No work, no workouts, no housework. Just time to do what truly brings me rest and joy. A reminder of what’s truly important in the shuffle of busyness life throws at us. After making all these micro changes and choosing to live a slower paced, more intentional life, my mind was clearer. My mission was rock solid. I enjoyed people more, and my peace + joy from the Lord was more consistent. I hope you'll consider going against the grain of culture and slowing down to see that life doesn't have to flash by. You're in it, you're here, it's happening now. We have to take time to drink it all in and let God teach us along the way.







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