MONDAY: SLOWING DOWN
KEY PASSAGE
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
DEVOTIONAL
What do you answer when someone asks, “How are you?” Do you say things like: “I’m tired,” “I’ve been busy,” or “Life has been crazy”? Those are surely honest responses, but they reveal something about what we value. Our culture values speed, busyness, and hustle - and we often wear our tiredness like a badge of honor. The busyness of our lives, the crazy pace at which we live, is a kind of validation, proof that our days are meaningful and that we are important and productive. We hold up our exhaustion as evidence that we are working hard and moving quickly towards our goals, right? But should we value what culture values? What if we’re not meant to live tired, busy, and exhausted by the craziness of life?
Romans 12 reminds us not to conform to the patterns of this world. The world expects us to do more, make more, buy more - causing us to move faster, work harder, and thoughtlessly wear ourselves out. That is what the world does. But we are called to live differently, to live by God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will.” God wants us to follow a different pattern. We must slow down our pace because we cannot move toward God at the pace our culture demands.
What do you answer when God asks “How are you?” Are you moving too fast? Are you too tired or too busy to spend time with Him? Being with God requires slowing down our pace so that when He speaks, we are ready to hear Him.
CHALLENGE
Take a minute right now to allow God to renew your mind, refocus on His perfect will for your life, and His immense love for you.
Take a moment to breathe more deeply . . . .
Begin to thank God for His goodness. . . .
Set aside your to-do list for a few minutes . . .
Allow God’s grace to enter your day.