Sometimes I need a reset.
This time of year is so fun, but so busy. I know things are tight when I’m making a prioritized list of everything that needs to be done in the next 96 hours, ranked by due date and importance, and then time blocking my days to make sure it all happens.
It’s the nature of the beast this time of year. Between celebrations, normal weekly commitments, and double booked doctor’s appointments (who let me schedule the dentist and the eye doctor within the same week?), it’s easy to let rhythms and routines slip until things slow down again.
Ironically, I think that now is when it’s important to lean in most heavily to the disciplines that give peace and order in an otherwise chaotic time.
I’ve been thinking in the last several weeks about what it really means to live as a disciple of Jesus. So often, we get caught up in the “oughts” and “shoulds” and lose track of the practical, daily things that constitute the life of the believer. I also see new or questioning believers express a desire to grow closer to God, but I rarely see pragmatic advice offered in response to their pleas.
The Christian faith isn’t something you do; it’s an identity, a holistic lifestyle change from the inside out. You’re not on the hook for all of it—it’s the work of the Holy Spirit to transform your heart from an enemy of God to a friend. But, that heart transformation will necessarily be accompanied by new habits. Whether you’re a seasoned believer, a new follower of Christ, or simply considering dipping your toes into the Christian life, sometimes we need to take a beat and get back to basics. That’s what this week’s post is all about.
Don’t worry about chasing a high
The Christian culture of my teenage years was passionate about young people being “on fire for God.” This isn’t a bad thing to want, but I do think this mindset results in some misleading conclusions.
The truth is, some days will be more tea candle than wildfire…and that’s okay.
I know what it’s like to have a transcendent moment in worship; to hear God’s voice, to really understand and know that his presence is near. To float out of the building, full of inspiration and ready for battle.
I also know what it’s like to call out to God and be met with seeming silence.
But more importantly, I know what it’s like to spend a morning in contemplative prayer, and then totally lose my patience in traffic on my commute home from work…all in the same day.
The takeaway here is that settling into the normal rhythms of life as a believer doesn’t preclude the mountaintop moments. It also doesn’t necessarily shield you from the valleys, though they are easier to travel once you’ve done so before.
The other takeaway is that the Holy Spirit’s presence is consistent in all these scenarios. Closeness to God is not a high to be chased or a fire to be set, but a lifelong endeavor best undertaken with humble obedience.
Seek the communion of the saints
This piece of advice functions on two levels, which I’m calling “literal” and “mystical.”
The literal communion of the saints happens in person. Join and attend a local church. Find a small group, a Sunday school class, a Bible study, or a book club and commit to it. Hang out with Christian friends.
I know it’s not always as easy as it sounds. I’m an introverted homebody; there’s nothing I want to do less some days than leave the house to get to church or small group. But, over and over again, I’ve found that one of the most soothing balms for a difficult, stressful day is to spend time with other people who love the Lord.
The mystical communion of the saints happens through the written word, primarily Scripture. I’m on the record as saying that the Bible is a magical book, not least because it compiles the history of God’s people, from nomadic tribes in Middle East deserts to exiles in Babylon and Assyria to house churches in Rome and Asia Minor.
Supplement your scripture reading with the words of other saints, as well. Thousands of years’ worth of works by ancient and modern theologians, Church Fathers and Mothers, and promoters of Truth are at your fingertips. Pick a person or a topic you’re curious about and read a couple pages each day.
Within these two communities, you’ll find much-needed wisdom, encouragement, humility, friendship, and joy.
Pray without ceasing
I have always desired a rich, consistent prayer life, but I think the one thing that made me start taking prayer more seriously was when my confidence in its efficacy increased. Simply put, I started praying more when I started believing it worked.
I’ve never disbelieved that prayer was efficacious, but I haven’t always had solid evidence to fall back on when doubts arise, or when answers seem hard to come by. Praying regularly and reflecting on those prayers has helped supply me with that evidence.
As long as we’re talking practical tips: set an alarm, and make a list. Decide on a non-negotiable prayer time each day, and commit to it for 30 days. (Probably 15 years ago I read that 30 days of consistency is all it takes to establish a habit. I don’t know if it’s true, but it can’t hurt!)
And, most importantly, take note of when and how your prayers are answered, and thank God for his provision in those matters.
More on the effectiveness of prayer here
Don’t beat yourself up if you forget, or if you spend 3 hours worrying about something before you remember to pray about it. Recognize, reflect, and move forward in obedience…which leads us to our final point:
Accept grace
Aren’t pity parties sooooo fun?
Well, actually…….no.
But, are they at least useful ways to punish ourselves for messing up? Like, to make sure it won’t happen again?
Also no. Not even a little bit.
The perplexing reality of the Christian life is that your sins have been forgiven. There is nothing more for you to do.
Unfortunately, this does not mean that you will never sin again. It does mean that when you do sin, you are no longer bound by it. God does not withhold forgiveness until you’re sufficiently sorry; grace isn’t contingent upon your actions.
It is a free gift, albeit a difficult one to accept at times.
But, to reject it is to tell God, in effect, that there’s some aspect of your sin that he doesn’t understand; that there’s some way in which his love for you, and his knowledge of you, is lacking.
The grace of God is too good to be true, yet it is true.
If you find yourself locked into the shame spiral after recognizing your sin, I empathize. In this moment, the most important thing you can do is pull the emergency brake on your runaway mind. Do not let the enemy gain a foothold, convincing you to hide from God, your comfort and peace. Find a short phrase to repeat when you’re in danger of getting stuck: “I believe; help my unbelief;” “I take every thought captive in submission to Christ;” “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” And keep moving forward in forgiveness and trust.
From the archives
From last year’s deep dive into 1 John:
Because you know the truth
Meditating on scripture is a practice that is integral to the Judeo-Christian tradition, and one that I’ve been attempting to practice for the last several years.
A visual reminder
