“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:25-34 (MSG)
Stop. Breathe. Pray.
Now is the time to set new habits. Especially spiritual habits. As our lives speed up and the distractions and crises continue to grow in number … our need to focus correctly on the Truth and our relationship with the Holy Spirit will only intensify. Our biggest nemesis is often our spinning mind which doesn’t give Him a chance. We’re reacting to all of the building pressures and voices screaming at us to DO something, fix something, prepare something, plan something. When many of us ‘know’ what we really should do … but don’t. I suggest to you to use these three words … stop… breathe… pray, as a reminder to ‘recenter’ yourself when the ‘noise’ in your life is becoming overwhelming.
Stop. Realize the ‘noise’ / media / voices / situation is causing you to react in non-productive non-healthy ways. Point your mind ‘up’ to the heavens and God. Once you’ve ‘stopped’ then ..breathe. Literally take some deep breaths and let them out slowly, and do this till you begin to feel the calm begin to invade your body. After a short time of deep breathing then … pray. Begin your conversation with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him the questions that came to you while you were breathing. Begin to listen for His responses and answers to you. Which will most likely bring more questions, and the conversation will continue. If you have to remove yourself from the environment of ‘noise’ and distraction … do so if you can. But often just getting up and walking around can start the process. The habit here that is needed is a ‘reconnection’ and a re-centering with God / Holy Spirit .. that brings a …peace, and a creativity, and God-forward progress within you.
The God-goal here is learning what He is doing, and what He wants you to join Him in …this very moment. It’s learning how to join with Him and His peace in the present. And then to make that ability a ‘habit’ in our lives. Stress isn’t from God. Stress isn’t found in any of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Jesus says, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30
I think it’s only easy WHEN we’re actually in the ‘yoke’ WITH Him.
Stop. Breathe. Pray.