DO YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN

I have always been one who set goals and then worked really hard to achieve them. It started when I was young and I always wanted to make the honor roll or become a cheerleader. I have been very blessed because it seemed that my goals were fairly easily reached.

Part of my chemistry seems to be to try to reach my goal in the shortest amount of time. I love a challenge so going hard and fast toward a goal is the only way that I know. I also have an obsessive personality which is a fabulous trait and a curse all at the same time. Having this trait can keep you laser focused and engaged but it can also make you miss out on a lot of other things that are happening around you.

I mentioned the other day that I felt like I have been feeling like I need to slow down. I am afraid that I will experience “burn out” but mostly I am afraid that I am not engaging with those around me as much as I should. Those around me have never complained and never expressed any type of feelings of neglect. It is my mind putting the guilt on me.

Recently I came across a lady who was experiencing these same thoughts and feelings. The fact that she even was found by me was the Lord doing some manipulation. A Facebook friend added me to this person’s page. My friend and I are sideline sisters  (we are both in the same business but not on the same team) and this lady is not connected to me at all and I shouldn’t have been able to have ever seen her page. But, she talked about listening to a Podcast of sermons that she was loving. I didn’t even know what a Podcast was or how to find it. Turns out that it is an app that you can download on your phone. The sermons that she was talking about is by a Pastor name Michael Todd from the Transformation Church. I found him also on YouTube so you don’t have to download the App if you don’t want to.

Anyway, the sermon I started listening to was a series on the word STRIDE. I felt like the sermon was meant for me. Then, the next day I logged on to one of my daily facebook groups where I listen to upbeat messages and also some training. The lady was talking about this very same message. THEN, if that was not enough, I subscribe to Proverbs 31 Ministries and get their daily morning devotional. That days devotional was titled, “The Simple Blessing of Slowing Down.” I don’t have to be hit with a brick to figure out that this message was meant for me. But, was it?

I prayed that night hard. I asked for forgiveness from the Lord that I might not be making enough time for him. I asked him, I begged him to show me what to do. I told the Lord if He would just speak to my heart that I would listen. I said to Him, “I am being still, Lord. Please tell me what to do.”

I am not Beth Moore and the Lord is not in a habit of speaking to me. But, I promise you that these words IMMEDIATELY  came into my mind. “Carry On.” What? What in the dickens does that mean? For one thing, I really thought that if the Lord was going to speak to me that His words would have been more profound or elegant. So I laid there and wondered if it was ME doing the talking. Was that what I wanted to hear? Again, I heard, “Carry On.”

So, this is what I have come up with. I am supposed to keep doing exactly what I have been doing. But, maybe you are the one in need of this lesson. Maybe the Lord is using me to bring you this message.

There is always the chance that I totally misinterpreted what He meant and I hope that He will correct my path later if that is the case. But, until then, listen to this sermon when you have a chance. It is almost an hour long but it is so worth the time. Let me know if the message was meant for you because the Lord has went to a great deal of trouble for you to hear this.

Have a Blessed Day!