Do you find yourself already tired as you look to the fourth quarter and all that the holidays bring? There are parties to attend, gifts to buy, relationships to navigate and boundaries to set. The pressure can feel immense, but you don’t have to succumb to the stress and chaotic nature that can come with this time of year. Peace can come with intentional practices.

I’ve been reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, and y’all, the message of slowing down is hitting deep within my soul. I am a self proclaimed achiever, and it can be hard for me to rest, but I truly believe that God has given rest as a gift! In Mark 2:27 we are reminded that Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Our bodies, hearts and souls NEED rest. Without it we will deteriorate and eventually could be forced to rest. I can tell you from experience; it’s much better to choose rest for yourself than to have it forced upon you.

As you head into these next few months I want to encourage you in these four practices: Silence, Solitude, Sabbath, and Space. 

Silence. When you are silent you create space for your soul to speak. Not only that, but it creates room for God to speak. The Creator of the universe, the God who loves you, longs to speak with you. Plan for silence in your daily life and see what the Lord has to share. You can trust Him. He has words of love and delight to speak over you! (Zephaniah 3:17)

Solitude. Something special happens when we get away to be by ourselves. As women, we often find ourselves pulled in many directions by those who need something from us in our lives. While we love being there for our friends and family, it can be hard to remember who we are when it’s just us. Solitude allows you to get clear on who you are and what you want. It makes space to remember the girl in you and remember the love God has for you.

Sabbath. My friend Ruth Chou Simons has said that “rest is worship.” When we rest, we say to God that we trust Him to handle the circumstances of our lives. You can rest knowing that He has got your back. God is big enough to keep the world spinning while you put your phone down. Yep, I went there

Space. These rhythms don’t magically happen on their own, you have to create the space for them. Mark it on your calendar. Write it down. Make a plan. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but how we choose to spend our time and manage our minutes is up to us. It will take intentionality and effort, but it is possible. 

Friend, you were made for more than the hustle. God has given you this life as a gift to enjoy! We work hard, but we can also rest! We create room to hear the voice of the One who really matters! We honor God and steward our lives well as we walk in rhythms of rest. Through silence, solitude, sabbath, and space you can experience breakthrough and peace as you head into the end of the year! 

Your life is too precious to not make the space. Here’s to living your one life well!

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Making room for silence
  • Setting aside time for solitude
  • Being intentional about Sabbath
  • Creating space for rest

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Resources Mentioned

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Let’s Talk!

  1. Where can you carve out space for silence and solitude in your life? 
  2. What’s one step you can take toward implementing Sabbath? 
  3. Where is God calling you to rest?

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