People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6 CEV

Have you ever had God flash some internal brake lights into your spirit? A message or string of events that were prompting you to slow down?

Yeah me too, mama. And this time, I’m going to choose to listen.

Here was my most recent string of spiritual brake lights:

• My friend gave me a mug for my birthday that said, “Slow Down.”
• My 3 year old just told me that she didn’t want to go to an event because it was “too far from home.”
• My last month was spent nursing sick kiddos back to health because I had been running them too hard to social activities I deemed as “important.”

Yep, message received Lord. It’s time to slow down.

The problem is I like the busy. I feel successful when I can fall into bed at the end of the day, victoriously having juggled a full calendar. But what is my prize? Exhaustion? Overstimulation? Behavior problems due to a full schedule?

It’s not a prize I want to win.

As I read Romans 8:5-8 today I realized that I needed my mind renewed yet again. I need to refocus it to embrace the holy slow. So I wrote this little paraphrase for myself:

“For those who live according to social expectations, for the love of likes or subscribers, or for other peoples applause are setting their minds on death and not on God-inspired things.”

These are the things I need to let go of to embrace the holy slow. Because it’s in the slow moments of life that God’s voice is heard more clearly.

If I look at some of my Biblical heroes like David & Moses, they all embraced the slow. David & Moses were shepherds who spent time in God’s presence and became acutely tuned to His voice. It was only because of those slow moments in the fields and that extensive preparation season that God was able to utilize them in BIG ways later on.

If you have a heart that yearns to do great things for the kingdom of God, you must first start by clearing your schedule. You must give the Holy Spirit your time so that He can speak to you.

“How I do that Bethany? I’m a busy mom and I can’t just leave my kids alone?”

I get it. I really do (my 5 month old is currently laying on the ground between my feet as I type this entry!) But here’s what it DOES look like.

• The holy slow looks like having periods of rest and refreshment for you and your family at home.
• The holy slow looks like having a dedicated chunk of quiet time with the Lord each day (get up early or during nap time!)
• The holy slow looks like going for a walk with your kids in the stroller while you listen to worship music.
• The holy slow looks like setting down your phone and playing with your kids.

The holy slow creates margin. Breathing room. A space for God to communicate with you and minister to you.

Embrace the holy slow mama.

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Dear Lord, I thank you for your goodness and your direction. I submit to your leadership. You determine my pace. If you say stop, then I’ll stop. If you say turn, then I’ll turn. I choose to follow you. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

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