Part 2: Learn the unforced rhythms of grace

Earlier this week, I suggested that lots of us are too busy. And I pondered the invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 to come to him, and discover his rest.
 
The more I have thought about this, the more I have become convinced of this basic assumption: there should be enough time to do all the things God is calling me to do. So how come I so often hear myself complaining that there are not enough hours in the day or days in the week to do everything? The logical conclusion is that I am allowing myself to be driven beyond the call of God.

This is all too easy to do! Some of us are perfectionists, and we set unrealistic expectations of ourselves. Some of us are people-pleasers, and we put too much emphasis on the expectations of others. Either way, these things come down to the matter of our identity, and whether we can be secure in who God has called us to be, and the things he is calling us to do. When we know what his big 'YES'es are, then 'no' is a lot easier to say. Which is why taking time to pray and seek God's wisdom about our commitments and timetables is so important.
 
Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, The Message, puts the words of Jesus that we've been looking at this way:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

I love the idea of these 'unforced rhythms of grace.' Not extra spiritual obligations to squeeze into our schedules, but genuinely life-restoring practices that help us to practise those Sabbath principles: stopping, resting and celebrating God's goodness. I think what these rhythms look like changes from person to person, depending on our personality type and our particular season of life. They will probably include how we worship, pray and read the Bible. But they might also include how much sleep we aim to get, what our exercise or recreation looks like, or what relationships we are investing in. And vitally, they might include some things are going to stop. These things are not meant to feel heavy, but joyful!
 
I've decided just as I have been writing this blog that I am going to aim to set aside a bit of time at the start of each month to switch off my smartphone and check in with God to look at my rhythms, see what needs tweaking, and set myself some goals accordingly. Not to make myself additional burdens, but because I want to walk more in step with Jesus, and to learn to live more freely and lightly. So, I am going to try to be that bit more bold, creative and intentional about it … feel free to ask me how it's going!

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