A needed pit stop

I had been thinking recently that our lives just seem to be flying by, like we are in some kind of Indy 500 race. Then low and behold I stumbled across this devotion by Chuck Swindoll. Man, did it apply to me and maybe it will speak to your heart as well.

“Is time passing faster, or am I just getting older? Is it already Fall and the kids are going back to school…what happened to summer? I feel like I swapped my calendar for a stopwatch!”

“Today I have decided to slow down long enough to stop the blur and take a long look at my life. Not just look but really see. As Yogi Berea once said, you can learn a lot just by watching.”

“Sometimes it helps to open life’s’ door slowly and take a long gaze inside. On other occasions, it’s necessary to jerk open the door, slam on the light and take a quick look. I’ve been doing the latter today and I don’t like what I see. My sudden glance has flushed out all sorts of critters. Such as:

·         Too many things that are taking up my time

·         Stress level way too high

·         Rushing thru my prayer times and time alone in His Word

·         Not enough time to relax

·         Not enough time to adequately plan or think things thru

·         Small worries turning into imaginary monsters

·         Days off often interrupted by needless, low priority ”stuff”

·         In a rut, not enough time for creativity

·         Skating across relationships-need to dig deeper

·         Too much time spent on things that do not feed my soul

“I know of no better strategy for stopping such an ugly, rat infested existence than deliberately pulling off of the race track and taking periodic pit stops. We need to refuel, renew, and refresh, and recover.”

         Sometimes the race we have to run is because of sin that needs dealt with. Is the pace we are running unhealthy for us- spiritually, emotionally, or physically? Sometimes we need a fresh start. We need to drop the sin that so easily entangles us at His feet. The burden of it weighs us down. Sometimes the need  to slow down, and be still and know that He is God, is a time of rest…in Him. We will run the race better.

          I can’t promise instant and total transformation but you are on the right track. Keep your eyes on Him as He leads you, as He refuels you, and encourages you to finish the race. Also, remember others around you need encouragement as well. 

Based on:

Hebrews 12: 1,2