- Jesus: The Series (Season 8)
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You need to slow down! Stop trying to be a superhero in this fast-paced world, filled with endless distractions and demands. Many of us are operating and running on pace that is not sustainable and could easily lead to burnout. We need to cultivate and prioritize time for deeper spiritual connection and communion with our heavenly Father. These moments of intentional cultivation of margin can help draw us closer to our Lord. This week, we looked at the example that was set by Jesus of stopping, resting, delighting, and contemplating.
Stop
While the world was focused on going as fast as possible, in every single direction, at all times, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place for prayer and solitude. The act of stopping and seeking communion with God allowed Jesus to align his actions with his heavenly Father’s will. Likewise, it reminds us to that we need moments to pause, reflect, pray, and listen. Sometimes the best thing we can do is slow down to catch up with God.
Rest
Rest has gotten a bad understanding at times. As we noted on Sunday, it is not just about a good nap or sitting on the couch doing nothing. It is about your body and mind being rejuvenated and restored as you rest. Resting from your responsibilities and your worries. Rest allows us to recharge, physically and spiritually, making us more aware and receptive to the presence of God in our lives. Many of us, need to simply rest. We are on the fast path to burnout and the best advice we can give ourselves is to remind ourselves that it is okay to rest.
Delight
As shared on Sunday, Eugene Peterson stated that “Sabbath was praying and playing.” It is easy to slip into the categories of the religious elite who sought to do nothing that exerted any effort. But rest and sabbath are more than just doing nothing, it is also about delighting. What brings you joy and delight? Jesus spent time with people, whether family or friends, but also engaged in activities that brought him life. Delightful rest is taking our minds off what we “have to do” and focusing on projects, activities, and moments that create a sense of delight that brings about restoration and rejuvenation. This allows to cultivate a sense of gratitude and awe, drawing us closer to our Heavenly Father.
Contemplate
We have to get beneath the surface. Contemplation involves going beyond surface-level understanding and diving into the depths of our spiritual lives and relationship with Jesus. Jesus often engaged in deep contemplation and encouraged his disciples and followers to do the same. In our spiritual life, we must take time to meditate and pray, study the word of God, and examine the mysteries of God. We are seeking to know our Savior and fall deeply in love with Him.
In the midst of a chaotic and busy life, made up demands and family schedules, intentionally cultivating margin is not merely a luxury but a necessity. God has done everything to commune with us. Will we make every effort to commune with Him? Will we follow the example of Jesus of stopping, resting, delighting, and contemplating? If we do, we will enjoy a deeper and richer relationship with the very One who created us!