“You slow down time as you manage your calendar instead of your calendar managing you.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 20, 2023
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11, NKJV
Slow down time, really? Yea, sort of; stay with me. What I’m driving towards is slowing down by pumping the brakes on the velocity of activity in your schedule. As you continue to speed around the high curves on the race track of your calendar, you increase the risk of a relational crash, emotional burnout, and physical exhaustion. There is a better path motivated by love and regulated by heaven. Your calendar in compliance with Christ may limit you from chasing shiny objects that only drain and distract you, but in the process, He will free you for His very best. Yes, you slow down time as you manage your calendar instead of your calendar managing you.
The poetic rhythm of Psalm 16 paints the lovely portrait of God’s will for you, a path of life where in the Lord’s presence is fullness of joy accompanied by unlimited pleasures. A path the Lord will show you, so a direction you can trust since you have His divine guidance. The narrow path of life and abundance is in contrast to the broader path of death and destruction. Many follow the wide path, caught up in a mob mentality motivated by the lust of the flesh and the pride of life…in a hurry to end up nowhere worthwhile, marked with a confused countenance, wondering why. Just as the cloud of the Lord’s presence led the children of Israel by day and His fiery love by night, so the presence of Christ’s love leads believers through dark valleys, up steep mountains, and along the occasional smooth roads…but all on the narrow path of His abundant life.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Like many things in life…time is a trust issue. Trusting the Lord that He will bless the time we invest to follow His path of life. As time slows down, we can, with intentional planning, take the time to inspire others to embrace God’s best for their life enthusiastically. Inspiration mixed with perspiration keeps people moving forward by faith in step with the Spirit. Indeed, an unhurried life has the capacity to mentor other minds in the truth of Scripture. Like a phone in need of upgrading its operating system to repair bugs and improve security, so we can instruct rushed lives to renew their mind with God’s grace to forgive sin and acquire wisdom to walk securely with Him. As we slow down time…we have extra time to love those who need us the most.
Instead of living in the fast lane, what if you moved over to the right lane? Take the time to enjoy the drive. Slow down and stop at a yellow light instead of zooming through a “pink light.” What if you take the back roads home instead of the fastest route? You slow down time when you make room for life and spontaneous moments to be available, so if she calls you at the last minute, you are free for coffee. Free when a child’s agenda needs more attention than what you originally planned. Free for a work colleague whose personal situation requires an extended lunch to listen and help process their pain out loud. Love slows down time to make time to love well.
Spurgeon, with intimacy and confidence, paints a vibrant picture of the path of life: “And my Lord, as there is only one path of life, You will show me the path. It is but a narrow track, and it runs clean, contrary to the broad way that leads to destruction. Thou wilt show me the path, O Lord, and guide my feet into it! When I know not which way to turn, to the right or to the left, Thou wilt show me the path, I know that Thou wilt. And it will be the path of life that You will show me. I shall not live in a kind of living death, as others do, but I shall be really quickened by Your Holy Spirit. In that path, I shall find life, and by that path, I shall receive yet more of life, and see You in the glory-life above far more fully that I can ever see you in the grace-life below.”
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts You” (Isaiah 26:3).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I look to you to show me your path of life for my life through Christ’s love, and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What path is the majority choosing that you need to avoid in deference to the path less traveled?
Related Reading
Proverbs 2:19, 12:28; Exodus 13:21; John 10:7-9, 14:6; Ephesians 2:18
Worship Resource
Red Rocks Worship: Be Still
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