Just stop and smell the daises…wait, I meant roses.

We live in a world full of hurry. Webster defines hurry as “to carry or cause to go with haste.” Other definitions even imply that when we hurry, we are acting without thinking clearly or we are acting rashly.

In our non-stop society, it’s hard just to stop everything and take a deep breath. Sometimes that feels impossible with every single to-do on your list or in your mind.

Here’s an incredible message from a small moment when Brandon Lake was forced to slow down.

“Don’t despise a slower season because it might be that God is giving you eyes for what He’s doing around you.” | Brandon Lake

Whether you’re waiting on an unanswered prayer or wish the world would stop moving so fast- finding easy ways to slow down and be present with God is invaluable. These are not magic solutions or quick fixes, but small steps to walking deeper in your relationship with Jesus.

1. Use your car ride as time with God.

According to a recent study, we spend about 4.3 years in a car in our entire life span. That’s insane! We’ve got to take advantage of this time and use it wisely. Here’s a small list that is just the start of ways we can connect with God in the long adventures and short commutes to school or work.

*Pray for people you see while driving.

*Have conversations with your other passengers about how God is working in your life.

*Listen to the Bible while you drive or a Christian podcast.

*See traffic jams as an opportunity to reflect on God’s creation.

2. Make your worship intentional.

My co-worker mentioned the song below is her favorite worship song right now. I wanted to make it a goal when a worship song really weighs on my heart, I take time to pick apart “How is God speaking to me in this song?”

Take out the lyrics that stick out to you. Write them down. Pray and meditate. There’s a great chance that there is some scripture involved as well. Here’s an example:

Lyric:

Lord I don’t want to rush on aheadIn my own strengthWhen You’re right here

Verse:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” | Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Reflection:

I can trust in the Lord’s timing for my life. I don’t need to rush into decisions or feel like I’m all alone. He will show me the way.

3. Practice silence during prayer.

Y’all this one is hard for me. My sister actually humbled me with this one. I was talking to her about waiting on God’s timing and how my prayers just feel useless sometimes. And she stopped me and said, “Can I ask you a question?” And immediately my heart dropped because that phrase is scary.

And she asked me if I was taking time in my prayers to just be quiet. To listen to what God is saying to me.

The answer was clearly no. If we talked the whole time during our prayer with God, that’s a one-sided conversation. And it breaks my heart to think that I was too involved in what I wanted to even listen to the answers He already had for me.

I truly hope that some of these steps can encourage you to slow down. God’s got this. God’s got you.

“Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. ” | Matthew 6:34. (NLT)

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