Clay in the Hands

In continuing the idea of slowing down and making space for God to work in our lives, one question that always arises is, “What do I do during this time?” As I mentioned in the previous post, God grants the growth, but we must do our part. Our part is to create space in our schedules as well as our hearts. We must put ourselves in a position to be shaped by God.

So, as odd as it sounds as an answer to the question above, one of the first things you must do is nothing. Most of us have a hard time with doing nothing. The drive to produce and perform compels us to make the most of every minute of the day. A full calendar suggests we are winning. But we need to adjust the scorecard. Busyness is not necessarily productivity. Sometimes, the most productive time is the time spent in being still and simply reflecting on the goodness of God.

But moving beyond doing nothing, the use of the liminal space (the space between the now and not yet) we create when we set aside time and attention is best filled with spiritual practices. There are volumes written on spiritual disciplines – the ancient practices that connect us to God – practices like silence and solitude, prayer and scripture reading, fasting and serving. While the list is much more extensive, the point is to find those practices that fit you where you are.

So often we decide we are going to intentionally work at growing in our faith and overnight we strive to do it all. Then, in a few short days or weeks, we begin to slip and before we know it, we are back to where we started with the added element of guilt for not following through. My encouragement is to start small.

Set aside 15 minutes per day for four days of the week to practice one of the disciplines. Alternate those disciplines throughout the week. An example might be on Monday, spend time simply reading scripture and reflecting on it. Then on Wednesday, spend time in prayer – both talking and listening. On Friday, fast from something to remind yourself of your need for God. Or find ways to serve others in some capacity. On Sunday, spend time in community at church worshipping God and learning from His word.

These are just examples. The primary focus is being intentional about opening yourself to God. Consistency is also important. We often shy away from the word discipline, but that is exactly what it takes to be consistent.

Today, start small. Find 15 minutes in your schedule and slowly read Psalm 1. Reflect on it and then read it again. Pay specific attention to what God says to you. Then resolve to take what He says and act on it.

Leave a comment to let me know about your experience as we grow in faith together.