My life is too fast.  I seem to rush around from one task to the next.  Or from one appointment to the next appointment.  When I'm in the car and sitting at a stop light, I constantly check my phone for various email updates, social media updates, etc.  Life is just going by too fast.  I try to live my life as intentional as possible, but there never seems to be enough time.

I can't believe it's already December 1.   30 more days and the year is over.   It's been said the older you get the faster the time goes by.   I'm "only" 37 and time seems to be flying for me.   Many others I talk with feel the same way.   Perhaps the technology that is supposed to help our lives and make us more productive actually restricts us and makes the time go by faster?

If you examine the life of Jesus, I think you would conclude that He was a very busy guy.  Healing people, teaching, eating, traveling and casting out demons makes for a busy life back then!   Consider the crowds that followed Him and the constant pressure He must have been under.  I bet He didn't feel like life was going too fast.  I think he thought it was perfectly timed.

As you examine the life that Jesus lived, there's one thing that really stands out that He did.  Jesus frequently got alone to pray.   Why is it so hard for us in our busy culture to do this as well?

Let's try for the next 30 days to take more time for solitude and prayer and see if that helps slow us down.  Make it another step along the journey for a more intentional life.  Any takers?

[UPDATE]

Vortex Ministry has launched a 30 Day Slow Down Challenge to any and all interested.   Click here for more information.

[image by sunside]

What are you going to do today?   Do you have a task list, day planner, outlook calendar synchronized with your phone?  I bet it's full appointments, things to do, places to go and people to see.   I know mine is full and there's nothing wrong with that.  However, in the busyness of life, we need to remain focused on two simple things:

1. Love God

2. Love Others

Matthew 22: 36-40 says: 

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

How do you love God and others?  Start by praising God.   Tell him how you feel, verbalize it.  Get into God's word, read the Bible.   Then apply it to your life.   It does no good sitting on a shelf or to just read and not act.    Once you read it, take action and make some life changes.   Serve others.  Put them above yourself.  Humble yourself.

Start today and try to live more intentional around these two things.   Such seemingly small things, but so important to remember in our lives.

[image by Great Beyond]

How often do you think about the purpose of your life?   Is it often or infrequent?   I have to admit that I think about it a lot.  Many days I wonder if I’m fulfilling all of the plans that God has for me.   Sometimes I get depressed because I don’t think I’m pursuing His call on my life.   What is the call?   I don’t know for sure, hence the round and around struggle.  I have some ideas, but it is still getting revealed to me.

Many times I wonder if we’re making our “purpose” out to be more complex than it has to be.   I was reading in the book of Isaiah and one thing that jumps out to me is that God didn’t “Call” Isaiah.   Isaiah responded to God’s question.

Isaiah 6:8 says:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

God was searching for someone that could go out and fulfill things that God was interested in.  Isaiah simply responded.   He stood up and said “Send Me!”    And God did.

Is there a situation in your life that you feel like God is searching for someone to step up and say “Send Me”?  Perhaps today you could take that intentional step and tell God “Send Me”.     If you do that, make sure to have an open heart and be ready to listen for what God asks you to do.   Talk about a life of adventure if we could live that way every day. 

How can God use you today?

[image by amboo213]