A Change In Pace

Why Margin?

Definition: Margin is the distance between your limit and your load.

Review:

Week 1 - Anxiety Robs us of our Margin

Week 2 - The rhythm of Sabbath gives us Margin

Week 3 - Care for our finances gives us Margin

Creating Margin for Spiritual Devotion

Making space for the spiritual disciplines that bring us closer to God, and give us the opportunity to mature.

CAN CUT Have you ever said these things?

“I wish I had more time to pray, read my bible, serve at the church, fellowship with other believers.”

“If only there were a few more hours in a day. I would have more time for my wife, my kids, or for God!”

Someone asks you how your week was and you reply, “Busy, really busy, Super busy!”

How did we get here?

- Mike on the treadmill

The 21st century business lifecycle

a. you learn to obey and follow the rules

b. your start school

c. you add extra activities (sports and hobbies)

d. you start a job (maybe even during school)

e. If you’re Mike, you’ve probably fallen off the treadmill a couple times by now

f. You start “adulting” and u go for higher education or you move out, which starts a whole different pace of life with significantly more responsibility.

g. At some point along the way you find love and probably start having kids.

h. Then you start taking on more activities, and if you’re like me and you hate saying no, you add on more, and more, and more.

How many of you find yourselves running at this pace? you feel like you’ve lost control of your life

We live in a culture that PUSHES us to go faster, do more, get more accomplished.

(once mike is off the treadmill)

Why do we get going so fast? We’re all either running to something or from something.

At some point along the way we find Jesus. Hallelujah! When we get saved, many of us proceed to try the most difficult form of discipleship to Jesus. We take a life that looks just like other unsaved peoples and try to add Jesus, Church, and spiritual disciples. I’m not talking about sin patterns. I’m talking about our pace.

This is not what Jesus called us to.

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS - JESUS OFFERS A BETTER WAY. A SLOWER PACE

How Jesus Lived

Here are a few observations from the life of Jesus:

1. We never see an example of Jesus running anywhere

This is not an excuse to skip exercise and the gym :)

2. Jesus was never in a hurry. He was never in a rush.

story of Jesus on his way to Jairus’ house to heal his sick daughter (Mark 5, Luke 8, Matthew 9)

At his pace, he was able to see opportunities outside of his current agenda to work in the will of the Father. If Jesus were in a rush, he likely would’ve blown past this women.

story of when Lazarus was sick

3. Jesus often paused his work completely so that he could devote himself to times of solitude, silence and prayer.

Examples of times Jesus went away to be alone:

After his baptism, at the very beginning of his ministry. 40 days in the wilderness.

As his influence and fame grew, it only appears that he spent MORE time in solitude, silence and rest.

Mark 5

15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

4. After the disciples returned from being sent out, Jesus sent them to rest.

5. In the garden before his arrest.

Why do we need to slow down?

The Greatest Commandment - Mark 12:30-31

“and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””

“Love is incompatible with hurry” - John Mark Comer

Ask yourself this question - “in my most unloving times, what was my pace? in my most loving times, what was my pace?”

Here’s the best part. Jesus invites us into it:

Matthew 11:28–30 NASB95

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

At Jesus’ pace, He carries the load with us.

Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase in The Message

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

CAN CUT - Objections to a slow pace

some may say, “Matt, this is great an all, but you don’t understand. My life is so busy and is has to be this way. I have to devote all this time to these important things.”

First, you’re correct. I don’t understand your life. you have unique challenges and experiences that I don’t have. but here’s what I do know:

You have time for what you choose to have time for.

The solution to slowing down is not more time. The solution is more time doing what matters most.

I’m about to create free time in your schedule :). 3 things that tame away from what matters most.

Social Media

According to the recent studies (some that very) the average American is spending over 800 hours on social media annually.

TV

The Average American watches more than 1,040 hours of TV annually.

Video games

By the age of 21, the average male in the US has spent more than 10,000 hrs playing video games.

Work other hobbies

Why is this the case? We are so busy, we literally can’t slow down. something alway has to hold our attention.

It’s not going to be easy, but as followers of Jesus, we need to slow down so that we can walk with him. What if the Greatest enemy to the life that we want is the life that we’re living.

How to slow down:

Recommended reading: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazarro

Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard

Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray

2. Start being present in the moment.

3. Begin the practice of Sabbath

4. Choose what’s important, eliminate what’s not.

If there’s time, the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10.

A simple prayer to close:

“Help me to walk slowly enough to experience Jesus fully and to love people deeply.”