For men, I think today’s topic may be the one that seems most counterintuitive. I think this is the one that’s going to cause more of us to say, “That’s just not possible. You don’t know what my life is like and my situation.” We’re talking about the spiritual discipline of pacing ourselves for breakthrough. I can already feel the tension, and as a husband, father of 4, a shepherd of a church with over 400 attendance each Sunday, content creator, outdoorsman, neighbor, friend – and on and on – I feel the tension as much as anyone. I want to say up front this is the discipline I am probably the worst at of the ones we’re going to cover in this series, so I’m not speaking to you as someone who has it all figured out. I will say, though, when my life has better pacing and a more sustainable rhythm, I am better in all the areas I mentioned above.
- Essence of Survival Poster – When the sun comes up, you’d better be running. God doesn’t just want us to survive. He wants us to thrive. Jesus said he came that we might have a full and abundant life.
Matthew 6:31- 32 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
- This translation says “strive” after. Some translations say “run after” or “seek after”. Either way it wears you out.
Slowing
A hurried life keeps us from being present enough to love God and people. “Slowing” is intentionally putting ourselves into situations that teach us to wait.
- Who would intentionally put themselves in a situation that teaches us to wait? Most of us are calculating which drive through lane in McDonalds is going to get us our food 2 minutes faster, and when we make the wrong choice, it’s like our dog died.
- Have you ever noticed when people are driving the speed limit, it seems like they’re taking forever? They’re driving as fast as they’re supposed to drive. We’re so used to hurrying that when we have to go the speed limit, it’s torture.
Matthew 17:4-5 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials[a]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”
- Context of passage – Jesus has just been transfigured. Peter, James, and John are on the mountain with him. Peter seems to think the most pressing need is to get busy doing something.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
- God can speak to us in any environment, but we’re much less likely to hear when we’re hurried.
- Practical ways to implement this in your life: not driving in the fast lane, taking the long way to work, not getting in the shortest line at the store, not buying things on credit
- Learning how to say “no” and learning to prioritize are critical if we’re going to learn how to slow down. Do you have buffers in your schedule? If something takes 10 or 20 minutes longer than you were expecting does it throw your whole day off?
Solitude
A crowded life gives the world permission to shape us into its mold. “Solitude” is withdrawing from the constant barrage of stimulation (highs and lows) to let God transform us.
Mark 6:30-31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
- The disciples had just returned from their first missionary journey without Jesus. He had sent them out to heal and teach the gospel. They’ve come back and they’re debriefing with Jesus on how everything went. There were so many people seeking an audience with Jesus that they didn’t even have time to eat. Jesus knows their need for rest and to get away from the noise of the crowds.
Mark 6:45-46 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
- Spoiler alert – when they get to the place where they were hoping to be alone, the crowds had already beaten them there. Jesus teaches them and the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 takes place. Jesus sends the disciples across the lake and then seeks solitude.
- If Jesus saw the need for solitude, how much more do we need it?
- I mentioned this in our last podcast on fasting, but when I’m faced with a big decision and I’m really trying to hear from God, I will often go out for a night or two in the mountains and camp solo. I usually do it around New Year’s Eve each year as I ask God for a verse for the upcoming year.
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
- Combining solitude with prayer and time in the word helps us to discern God’s will.
- You don’t have to go to the wilderness for solitude. You can do it right in your home. Any place that is going to get you away from distractions, away from the voices of others for a period of time
Silence
A selfish life tempts us to use our words to control things. “Silence” is choosing not to speak so you can hear from God and learn to submit.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 [b]Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
- This is a lot easier for some of us than others. Some of us are verbal processors. Some of us, especially if we’re dealing with insecurities, feel the need to be a part of every conversation.
- I think we do want to be careful not to use this as a crutch to not engage. We’re not talking about apathy here. We’re talking about choosing our words wisely.
- A time to be quiet and a time to speak in Ecclesiastes 3 so we’re not talking about taking a vow of silence like you might envision in a monastery.
Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.
- That seems so opposite of what culture would say. How many in our culture equate strength with quietness? I think of our political debates, and I’m not picking a side here, but how better off would we be if we just voted on the track record of the candidates instead of all the garbage that they spew out of their mouths that 90% of them have no intention of following through on.
- James 3 has so much to say about controlling the tongue and the damage that our words can cause. We’re supposed to be slow to speak and slow to anger.
Sabbath
Although our Sabbath may look different than what was practiced in the Old Testament, the principle of Sabbath was intended to bless us. Having a rhythm of time set aside for God and for rest carries many benefits.
Genesis 2:2-3 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested[a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
- God wasn’t tired. God doesn’t get tired. He set a pattern for us. We see this throughout the Bible that the Sabbath was to be a blessing for us.
Mark 2:27-28 Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
- The religious leaders had turned the Sabbath into a burden. The Sabbath was meant to be for our good. Having a day where we set aside a larger amount of time to focus on God, be with his people, get away from the normal grind of our work week is meant to bless us. God’s boundaries are for our good and this is no exception.
Romans 14:5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.
- As New Testament believers, our Sabbath isn’t necessarily from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday like it would have been in the Old Testament. For many, Sunday is a great day to be their Sabbath day. They likely attend church services. Many businesses are closed.
- Sunday is definitely not a Sabbath for me. This is an area where I need to get better. I tend to not take one entire day off. I usually have one or two days where I have longer periods of rest, but it’s rare to not work the whole day. That’s something I’m working on.
Close
I think in a lot of ways, the struggle with pacing comes down to trust. Do I trust God to meet my needs? Do I trust God that what he says is important vs. what the world says is important is true? Do I trust that he wants the best for me and that incorporating some of these pacing disciplines will actually lead to a more full and abundant life?
