This is a life lesson I have been learning for a long time, but sometimes I forget. I look at deadlines, I make lists so I can cross things off, I calculate numbers, and I forget to breathe. Sometimes in life you just need to take a step back and take a deep breath and notice all that God is doing around you. During training we did this thing called a silent retreat. For 2 hours we could not talk to anyone we just all went our own ways and spent some quiet time with God. How often do you do this? How often have I done this? MAYBE I’ve done it once or twice before, but I have never made it a regular practice of mine. Its hard to leave the phone behind, turn the computer off, and not just sit yourself in front of the TV and watch one quick episode of NCIS (that usually turns into an all day marathon…). So now I’m in the midst of deadlines, projects, goodbyes, paperwork, and so on but I am taking a couple of hours to just be silent. Taking a couple of hours to listen to God and what He has to say. I encourage you to do the same thing… it’s definitely not the easiest thing to do, but it is worth it, and you never know what God might show you that He’s been trying to show you for a while now but you’ve been too busy. We all need silence and space for ourselves and also for God. In Matthew 6:6 Jesus said, “when you pray go to your private room and shut yourself in.” That private room is making space for Jesus whatever way we do it.
Sometimes-you learn to slow down because you’ve been going full force ahead too much and you get sick. I am getting a bit of a cold, my mind is getting groggy and I’m blowing my nose every 5 minutes. There’s no way for me to continue to be doing all that I need to get done at the same pace I was going while I am sick. So now, I’m being forced to slow down, being forced to rest. Even though it’s hard for me, I know it will be good for me in the long run.
So what next? Well, as soon as I post this, I am getting in my car, taking myself, my Bible, and my journal and going to sit either at a park or if its raining, in a coffee shop. I’m not going to talk to anyone, I’m not going to take my phone with me, I’m just going to be present with God and invite His presence to be with me. I challenge you to do the same.
Thanks,
Julie
Prayer requests/Updates:
– Prayers for my friends that are getting sick along with myself, that we will be able to rest and recharge to continue doing the work God has called us to do.
-Prayers for the Interns with my team from Ukraine as they return to the US.
-Prayers for my friend Emily-she just returned home from being in Zambia for 2 and a half months working with Push the Rock. Transition times are hard, especially when you want to be two different places at once.
-Prayers for my support. Im at 61% monthly support, still have until September 1 to raise the remaining 39%. It is hard to stay encouraged during this time, but God is a big God and He can make anything happen.
The song posted... is a good one, give it a listen.