A Time to Slow Down by Ps Michael Podhaczky

At the moment, it would appear that most of the world has come to a standstill. Many businesses have closed or slowed down, holidays and travel have been put on hold, and people are living at home in isolation. Even family get together are not an option at the moment. So, what do we do at this time?

It can be a great opportunity to slow down. To slow down physically, but especially in our minds. As we can be on the go thinking and planning for work, our life, holidays and the future etc. so, if we are able to slow down, what do we do? Here are some suggestions that we may not be able to take as much time doing at other times.

·         Well, why not spend the time with family and children if they are all under the same roof?

·         Do something you enjoy doing and can do at home? Like repair and old cupboard, do a jigsaw, make some cards to send to people to encourage them, revamp your garden if you have one etc.

·         Maybe you could start reading and finish a book of your liking.

·         Why not slowly pray not rushing through our prayer as many of us may usually do as the clock dictates to us?

·         Why not take time slowly read and study the Bible, or a book of the Bible? Taking time to understand the bigger picture, theme, context and truths it contains?

·         The Psalms are great for this kind of slow, meditative reading as the as short and have so much to say to us in these times.

·         Why not read a Psalm with someone over the phone, on facetime, online through Zoom or some other program?

·         Why not ask the Holy Spirit who you could ring that maybe living alone at this time that could be lonely and needs some encouragement.

These are a few short term ideas that may help you at this time. We can invest as little or as much time in these as we like. We need to make the most of this time if we are at home, instead of complaining about being locked in our houses. As the Psalms say,

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Ps 90:12 ESV).

Pause in His presence for a moment and think this over…