I’ll never forget my first trip to Haiti over 10 years ago with my husband, Joel, and sister in law, Liz. We came to assist a pastor friend of ours who has a ministry primarily focused on prayer, teaching, and worship.

Our days were full as we traveled to various locations for ministry opportunities. The heat was extreme, we were on our feet most of the day, and we didn’t rest much.

We were told that the next day would be our “day off” – a Sabbath Day. But, we reasoned, we were only in Haiti a short time and surely we could be of use to someone that day. So we trudged over to a nearby construction project that was taking place and began to work.

The result was a clear exercise in futility. There wasn’t much organization and nothing we did seemed to help. After a few hours, we politely retreated as Liz wisely concluded, “We just need to take our Sabbath.”

Dallas Willard has said, “The command is “Do no work.” Just make space. Attend to what is around you. Learn that you don’t have to DO to BE. accept the grace of doing nothing. Stay with it until you stop jerking and squirming.”

1) Choose to set aside a day of rest each week to stop the “jerking and squirming.” Our culture seems to be worse about this than any other. We have a moment of peace and we grab our mobile devices, eager to occupy time. To fight this urge to constantly keep taking in new information is to gain time to reflect, observe, give thanks, unwind.

2) Choose a day of rest to gain more margin and allow yourself time to just “be” instead of “do”– As Mark Buchanan has said, “Most of the things we need to be most fully alive never come in busyness. They grow in rest.”

If we spend every day of the year striving to work, earn, impact, and create we don’t have any time to step back and admire what we have done. We don’t have time to just sit and watch it grow.

3) Choose a day of rest to take your hands off your life and let God give the growth. As 1 Corinthians 3:7 says so beautifully, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”

4) Choose a day of rest to give your mind and body the break they need. Many Americans are sleep deprived and over-stimulated. As John Piper said, “Now I think that the principle in the New Testament is that God ordains that one day in seven be restful. I think that’s a creation ordinance for our good, for our health.”

My last reason should have been first because it is truly the most important.

5) Choose a day of rest to set aside time for God. While the rest of our week is full of work and activity, our day of rest can include more of that which nourishes our spirit and soul: quiet, rest, time in God’s Word, time worshipping with other believers.

Do you set aside a day of rest each week? If so, what have you done to make this day different from the rest of the week? I would love to hear!

photo by Jimmy Brown

You wake up in the morning and before your feet hit the floor, your mind is already flooded with the items that didn’t get checked off your “to-do” list yesterday.

If you have a “to-do” list. If not, making a “to-do” list is likely on your mental “to-do” list.

If you have children, its likely that you wake up to little voices asking for your help with something or the need to break up a sibling squabble.

Not exactly the way to get a peaceful start to your day.

A Pew Research study in 2006 claims that about 1/4 of American women and 1/5 of all men “always feel rushed.” And while a more recent study by the University of Maryland states that the population at general is less rushed now, it is also less happy.

Interestingly enough, those surveyed in the UMD study who were happiest (less than 10%) didn’t have more free time on their hands. Researcher John P. Robinson concluded that “This small slice of the population…seems to have found a way to organize their lives in a way to resist the rat race and hurry sickness than afflicts the rest of us.“

What can we do to “organize our lives” in such a way where we rejected hurry and embrace the gift of each moment that is given us?

God provides us with much instruction from His Word on how we can live a full life with quietness and intentionality. Here are three such thoughts for your further reflection:

1) Decrease Anxiety through Prayer: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6. My in-laws have a plaque above the door which exits their home stating, “A man who is too busy to pray is too busy.”

Even if our inbox isn’t flooded or our task-list on overload, our minds can still be constantly running with anxious, unrestful thoughts. While anxiety is a common human condition, as believers in Christ we can choose to daily, even hourly if necessary, give him those worries and fears in prayer, inviting his peace into our thoughts.

2) Practice His Presence: Psalm 37:7 admonishes us to “Be still before The Lord and wait patiently for Him.” As a society in general, we don’t like to be still OR to wait patiently – but this is a clear invitation from God which brings rest, peace, joy, and renewal of strength. We can walk and talk with God when we are anywhere, doing anything. He promises that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

3) Take Time to Dwell in the Moment: Psalm 37:3 encourages us to “…dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.” To dwell means to settle down and abide. Observe your surroundings. Pull your head up from your smart phone. Smile at your neighbors. Don’t just water your flowers – smell them.

A full life doesn’t have to be a frenzied life. Embrace God, embrace your place, and embrace peace and joy right where you are!

What or who has helped you learn to slow down and focus on the blessings right in front of you? I would love to hear from you!