Christian Soul Care Devotional
“Inviting God’s touch in your soul”
By Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. © 2010
In Jerusalem I visited the site where the temple used to be and I walked the same south entry steps that Jesus walked on.
As I climbed I noticed that the steps were irregular – they varied in length, some being long and others being short. I learned that this was done to slow people down as they came to worship! By walking more slowly they would be helped to pray and be more attentive to God and receptive to his word.
We’re in a Hurry!
Imagine if we walked more slowly in our churches today! Sadly, most of us rush into church distracted and get there five minutes late — unprepared to hear God’s words and worship him with our hearts.
Most pastors and dedicated Christ-followers that I work with are in a hurry. I understand — I’ve lived that way most of my life and sometimes I still find myself back on that spinning hamster wheel!
We have so many responsibilities to accomplish, so many things we want to experience, so many people to help. So we rush around and try to fit 25 hours in a day. Even people in retirement struggle with getting stressed about trying to get more done in less time.
The Way we Walk
In Jesus’ day there was a saying, “A noble person is known by… the way he walks” (Sirach 19:29-30). Distinguished men did not run – they walked and the more honorable they were the slower they walked.
The Bible has a lot to say about “the way of the upright.” It’s referred to 97 times in the Psalms alone. To walk uprightly is to walk with God, looking to him in the heavens all around you as you walk. This is not done helter skelter or in a hurry. It’s done with care and deliberateness; it’s done patiently.
Unhurried Rhythms of Grace
When Jesus said, “I am the way to the Father” (John 14:6, paraphrase) he was inviting us into his unhurried rhythms of grace (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG).
Recently I was reading a book in which a respected Christian teacher said that Jesus did not have much to say about living without hurry. It’s true that the Gospels don’t record lots of instances of Jesus saying the words: “Do not hurry!” But there are many other ways of saying the same thing!
Jesus’ whole life example is one of being unhurried and he repeatedly taught us to slow down:
Don’t be in such a hurry… Listen… Whoever has ears to hear, listen…
Don’t worry… Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?… Peace…
Come to me… Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light… Walk with me in my unforced rhythms of grace… Don’t run in the dark! Walk with me in the light so you don’t stumble…
Peace! Be still… Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and rest… Stop your busy work to sit at my feet and listen to my words…
Watch and pray… Be constantly alert… Always pray… Wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit that my Father promised…
Take time to love your neighbor.[i]
Jesus was Never in a Hurry
Jesus’ example was that he was never in a hurry – except to go the cross and die for us! When the Father said it was time he turned and headed straight for Jerusalem, leading his disciples with resolve (Mark 10:32 and Luke 19:28, MSG). Jesus’ only hurry throughout his life was to listen to his Father and to obey him.
Jesus had the most urgent and substantial call of God on his life than anyone else ever has or will — he had far more to do and less time to do it than you or I — and yet he was never in a hurry! Because of his relaxed pace and the generous margin of time he allowed between activities he was quite interruptible. Again and again the gospels record people interrupting Jesus with a desperate need or a question and he is patient to respond with grace and wisdom.
As we learn to slow down and walk in Jesus’ easy yoke it helps us to hear God’s voice and to love others as God loves us. (Ever notice that the first requirement of Love in 1 Corinthians 13? “Love is patient.”)
More Soul Shepherding
We are wise to “Hurry Up and Be Still” with Jesus, to listen to and obey the Father with him.
I invite you to slow down for a few minutes right now by praying “Be Still as the Lake at Dawn” with me. This is a favorite prayer poem I wrote from meditating on Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”
You Can Live in Jesus’ Easy Yoke is my book that will help you to slow down and tune into God’s presence and guidance even in the midst of your busyness and stress.
Your tax deductible donation to Soul Shepherding supports this website and enables us to provide spiritual care and guidance to the pastors, pastors’ wives, missionaries, and leaders who care for others. Ministry leaders experience tremendous stress and often cannot afford the help that they need.Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org
[i] Paraphrases of Jesus’ words from Matthew 16:27 (MSG), Matthew 15:10, Matthew 11:15, Matthew 6:25-27, Luke 24:36, Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV and MSG), John 12:35, Mark 4:39 (NKJV), Mark 6:31 (NASB), Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 26:41, Mark 13:33 (AMP), Luke 18:1, Acts 1:4, Luke 10:36-37.
