I’m spending the day at White Oak Conference Center for a one day planning retreat – no interruptions, time to think and focus. I try to do this once a month and it’s a huge help.

After lunch today I sat in a rocking chair while reading a few articles on marriage for the upcoming sermon series. The sun was warm and I could see the lake in front of me – a really nice setting. At one point I closed my eyes and I could hear birds chirping, a light breeze blowing, and Christian music playing over the PA system. It was very pleasant.

I found myself remembering autumn days on the farm in KY when I would lie in the hay field looking up at the sky and just relax. Moments like those are easier to come by on a farm and in childhood – or at least they used to be.

Today we rush around – because we’re busy and the demands keep growing. We even add to the busyness by over-scheduling and adding more to the calendar. We keep our kids busy with way too many activities and sports – and thus keep ourselves too busy. We don’t know how to slow down…

Yet it is God who created not only the Sabbath as a day of worship, but also created the concept of Sabbath in our lives – those moments when we intentionally slow down. We are created in such a way that we prosper spiritually, emotionally, and relationally when we slow down. In those moments we are better able to encounter God. We hear Him speak to us. We even hear our own thoughts. We reflect on what it all means and what it is telling us about our life, struggles, opportunities, and the decisions we face.

Failure to slow down is a failure to live the life God intended.

I encourage you to build into your life – into your routine – times to slow down. You will never regret it if you do, but I promise you will end up regretting it if you don’t.

Pastor Steve Hogg