We live in a busy world! Between work, hobbies, kids, sports, church, and everything else, there is little time for eating some days. Even though there are always 24 hours in a day, the older we get, the faster time goes and there’s even less time to get more done.

This last week, the praise team at church did a song called “Slow Down” by Nicole Nordeman. The song talks about how fast time goes and how quickly kids grow up. After the first service, someone made the comment, “I felt as though God is telling us to slow down.” It’s so true!!

One of the best ways Satan distracts us from our relationship with God is filling our schedule with lots of stuff. And generally, it’s not bad stuff! It’s good or even important things. We get so busy with life and all it offers, we don’t take the time we need to sit and be with God to develop a deeper relationship with him. We get so busy doing the important things we forget to do what is necessary. Busyness has become a symbol of success. The busier we are, the more needed and important we appear. And it slowly kills us on the inside.

I love the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Elijah is running for his life and fears God has completely forgotten him. He feels alone, as though he is the last follower of God. The rest have been killed, and his time is coming. God tells Elijah to go to the opening of the cave for He, the Lord, is about to pass by. A strong wind comes through shattering the ground and rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. There was a great, powerful earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Finally there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Then came a gentle whisper. It was in this gentle whisper the Lord spoke to Elijah.

My guess is the same thing happens to many Christians today. Like Elijah, we get busy. Elijah got so busy speaking and working for God that his relationship with God suffered. It happens in the Church and in ministry all the time! We can be so busy volunteering or working for God we forget to be with God. It’s called burnout, and it’s deadly. There is nothing that will kill our relationship with God quicker.

I have heard so many people say, “I just can’t hear God anymore” and they feel disconnected. Every time I ask them how their quiet time is, how is their relationship with God growing, and whether or not they are listening to God. We have a tendency to be eager to talk to God, yell at God, tell Him everything that is going wrong and how we think He should fix it. We may read scripture, but if it doesn’t specifically answer our question, it’s easy to get frustrated and move on with our day.

When was the last time you simply sat to listen to God?

We need to pause and simply remember that He is God and we are not. We simply need to rest in His goodness and His power instead of relying on our own strength. Sometimes we need to get away from the noise and busyness and ask God to speak to our soul.

Try this. Find a block of time where you can get everything out of your mind and focus on God. Put it on your calendar if you have to because it’s that important! Find a comfortable chair and sit for just a little bit to clear your mind. (If you have a time limit, set a timer on your phone for 10-15 minutes so you don’t have to worry about looking at the clock.) Rest your elbows on your knees, extend your hands out with your palms down. Think about all you do which is focused on you. Release everything you hold to so closely and empty your mind of everything. Ask God to point out aspects of your life you need to let go of or change (and be ready to listen!). Once you feel you have done that, turn you palms up toward God and ask him to fill you and speak to your soul. Listen. Listen to what He has to say. Rest in His Presence.