The busiest season is upon us! Whether you host for the holidays, travel or help organize your crew’s celebrations, these last couple of months are usually packed. I truly hope that they are filled with joy for you and yours, and that the peace of God would be with you if they are not. In all of the planning, the gathering—I’d like to make a case for a pause.
A pause while folding the laundry, maybe. A pause from scrolling our phones. A pause during our workday.
Sometimes we Christians can get into a routine of box-checking. There’s nothing wrong with consistency and discipline at all; in fact, I think the Bible makes a pretty great case for it. Consistency, even mundane consistency, is a valid part of any relationship. But a relationship on fire is full of dynamic moments and spontaneity, too. We can so often get in the habit of treating our relationship with God like a checklist. Check off the praise box, repent, talk to Him about what we need, end. But sometimes what our hearts need more than anything is a pause. A time to set aside the checkboxes and the agenda and truly reflect on God’s goodness. Re-orient ourselves in worship and give God thanks for ALL He has done. This can really look like just sitting in the quiet of your home or your car at the end of a long day and putting all of your attention on God. I promise it won’t take long before that overwhelming gratitude starts to pour out to Him. No matter what we face, He is always good and faithful. That alone brings me to tears when I think of it!
But how do we help ourselves to do this practically? I have goals many times of keeping the house clean or establishing a workout routine, but goals don’t guarantee that we will follow through or succeed. Every person that sets out to win a race has a goal of winning, but not everyone wins. The difference between the winners and losers is what they do to set themselves up for success.
You might read this and go away determined to incorporate these pauses into your life, only to forget all about it and realize in two months that you never established this habit. I’ve been there! So I thought I’d include a few practical tips that have helped me as a busy mom and wife to slow down and spend that valuable time with God.
My grandmother used to have a wooden angel on the windowsill above her kitchen sink that read, “I’m your windowsill angel, a gentle reminder to pray. Have you stopped to give thanks for God’s love today?” I saw that angel every time I washed my hands at her sink for as far back as my memory goes. She gifted this angel to me when my husband and I bought our first home, where it now sits above my own kitchen sink. I can’t tell you how many times while doing the dishes, filling up a pitcher of water or washing my hands I’ve been reminded to stop and reflect on God’s blessings.
Maybe it’s not a windowsill angel for you, but a sticky note reminder on your mirror or an alarm on your phone at a certain time each day. Maybe it’s leaving ten minutes early for work to sit in the silence of the car and talk to the Lord. Whatever is is, put something in your path that causes you to make that pause. No matter what season of life you may be in; hard times, weary times, times where your faith is low, God is still good. Many days when we don’t feel like worshipping, worship is exactly what will uplift our spirit and re-align our focus.
Another practical tip is to keep a journal or notebook in the same place and write down what you are thankful for each day. If you keep a running to-do list, put a space at the top or bottom to fill in. Gratitude breeds contentment and oh, how we could all use some more of that in this day and age.
In your prayer time, when you’re not sure what to pray for or can’t seem to get your mind to shut off and focus, meditating on and thanking the Lord is often the key. This puts your heart in the right position and aligns your priorities so that God can speak to you clearly.
The beautiful thing about God is that He never changes. He is always good, faithful and worthy of worship. Many things may overwhelm us, but I promise you the second you enter into praise and thankfulness, those things take their rightful place—in His hands.
