Slow Down – Devotion 91

I was watching a show recently and one of the people on the show had a reminder on his arm that read “slow down”.  It was his way of always staying focused on the task that was in front of him and not getting ahead of himself.  He found himself always rushing and trying to get so much accomplished.  But when you rush all the time, you make mistakes.  You miss some of the important parts.  You fly by what is obvious in search of the next thing.

Over the last few months, this seems to be the lesson I am learning.  When we are limited on the things we can safely do, we learn to make better choices with our time.  When our overloaded calendar becomes clearer, we see what is most important to us.  Time seems to have a different feel.  Slowing down can be a valuable lesson if we are willing to learn.

When we slow down, we notice the small things we would have otherwise missed.  We have the opportunity to see the small but important changes happening around us.  When we slow down, we listen better, we see clearer, and we think with more precision.  When life is more than what we can get accomplished, the things we actually do can be done with more care.

Slowing down definitely brings gifts.  What are you missing when you rush through your day?  What is happening around you that you could be an active part if you simply slowed down to notice?  What joys are blooming right beside you if you would just take the time to see?

Today, slow down.  See what God is up to.  And may you find the simple joys happening all around you.

Focus Scripture:

Psalm 146

¹ Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
² I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

³ Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
⁴ When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.

⁵ Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
⁶ who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
⁷     who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
⁸     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
⁹ The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery