✅APPLY:
Sometimes we are so focused on the thing right in front of us that we become stressed and overwhelmed. In these times we can develop “tunnel vision” where the thing in front of us is the only thing we can see. At times this can help us stay focused on what’s important, but other times it just makes us feel blinded. How can we rest in the things that God cares about? When we do that, we have the strength to run towards love for God and love for people. Write down the things you believe God cares about. We know the big ones are loving God and loving people, but list some examples of what that can look like. Write a short prayer asking God to help you focus on what God cares about.
0 Comments
💡Remember that quiet place you went to earlier in this journey towards rest and peace? Go back to that place or create a similar space. Take a few deep breaths in and out. Ask to experience God’s perfect peace.
✅APPLY:
Think about how often you get a plan in your head and you move forward with it, only to eventually see the plan fall apart. How can this verse give you peace when you feel like your calendar or your plans are completely overwhelming? Can you find a way to be ok if not everything works out the way you planned it? Write down some of the plans you have for the next week, month, or year. Tell God if they stress you out, or if it stresses you out to think about these plans falling through. Ask for help trusting that God’s plan is best. 💯
✅APPLY:
Write down the word “unhurried.” (HURRY .. DO IT! ... .. no no.. I kid) Is there anything that you find yourself doing quickly, without feeling like you gave it your best? Ask God to help you be unhurried this week and bring this word to mind. Under the word “unhurried,” write a short prayer to thank God for creating rest. Express your gratitude for the fact that God never hurries, even when we may want God to rush.
✅ APPLY: A lot of times, we think that time spent with God is wasted time. We’re just sitting there and not producing anything. If Jesus took the time to be alone and pray, then we should, too. Not because we need to check off a task so we can say we did something to please God today, but because we receive a benefit by spending time with God. Time spent with God in rest prepares us for our next season of running.
Today, can you remind yourself that spending time with God is valuable way to spend your time? Write out a list of tasks that need to be accomplished in the next week. Before you begin tackling the list, take a few moments to pray as you prepare for the work you’re about to do.
✅ APPLY: We don’t have to be morning people to spend time with Jesus. We don’t have to set aside 3 hours to spend alone with God to get our “holiness” on for the day. The time of day is not what’s important.
What’s important is that you find a time where you stop running and embrace rest. What kind of space can you create for yourself to get away from the chaos around you and find time to be still and alone? Ask God to help you develop a habit of getting to a place by yourself to spend time in God’s presence. Pray this simple prayer: “Jesus, make your presence known to me.” This verse isn’t supposed to make us feel guilty about not getting up in the morning and praying for 5 hours. Instead, it’s meant to show us that even Jesus needed time to get away and be alone.
✅APPLY:
Name the biggest thing that is stressing you out right now. What would it look like for God to console you in the midst of what you’re experiencing? Write a prayer to God naming the biggest thing that is stressing you right now. Write something like “God, this is the thing that is causing me the most stress and worry. I want to be consoled by you, comforted by you, and to experience your peace. Show me what that should look like.”
✅APPLY: How does God go with us? How does God give us rest? What would change for you if you truly believed that God was with you? Would it allow you to take time from all the running to find rest? Take time to notice signs of God’s presence in your life today. Ask that you would be more aware of God’s presence. Make it a simple prayer that you can say as often as you need to.
✅APPLY: What is the chaos you feel like you’re in right now? What is a quiet place you can go to get rest? Find that quiet place. When you find it, ask that Jesus would make his presence known to you there.
It would be great to ask God to help us fly away from whatever is overwhelming us, but that’s not always possible. Pray quietly and silently to yourself that God would help you face whatever is overwhelming you. Name the thing that is overwhelming you and write it on a piece of paper. Then fold it into a paper airplane and send it flying. This is a picture of letting go and allowing God to take care of you. |
