This morning I took our puppy, Greta, for a walk. Every morning for the last 3 weeks I have followed the same routine of feeding her breakfast and then taking her on a walk and every morning she has followed the same routine on our walk; Greta walks a few steps – stops – turns around – sits down and tries to go back home. I gently pull on her leash and begin leading her further down the path then a few steps later we do the same thing. Each time I become a little more forceful with my direction until we lose sight of the house. Once we can no longer see the house Greta begins to pull me down the path so we can make it back home, her place of comfort. There are many times Greta is pulling so hard she loses her breath, fur and skin are pulled tight under her collar and I’m struggling to keep up with her.
This morning I tried something new. Each time she got to the point she was struggling to breathe I stopped her, sat her down, loosened her collar and repeated, “slow, Greta, slow”.
As I walked with Greta this morning and began going through these steps I realized how much I rush just like Greta. I rush, rush, rush through my day with so many things to do. I say yes to things before thinking and praying about what God has planned for me. Before I know it I’m rushing through my day struggling to get everything done. I’m left gasping – gasping for breath, gasping for time, gasping for organization, gasping for calm.
It is during those times I need to stop, slow down and pray for God to give me His direction, his plan for my day and my life. I’ve learned that when I stop and listen for His plan for my day and life He shows me the steps I need to take to unrush my life.
Sometimes the best thing for me to do is say No to opportunities so I am able to unrush my life.
One way God is helping me learn that is through the words of Lysa TerKeurst in her newest book The Best Yes. In The Best Yes Lysa helps us learn the power of saying NO so that we have the freedom of saying YES to God’s BEST for us.
When I say no I am giving myself the freedom and ability to slow down and hear God’s Best for my life. One of my favorite quotes from The Best Yes is in Chapter 2 The Way of the Best Yes,
“The one who obeys God’s instruction for today will develop a keen awareness of His direction for tomorrow.”
When I stop, pray and listen to God’s direction for today I learn to hear His direction for my life. As I follow His direction for my life I am unrushed and more focused on Him.
In His Calm,
