We recently set our clocks back and gained an hour. Some people love the time change that happens twice a year, others loathe those days. Usually as we “fall back” I decide to use that hour as “bonus time” and go to bed an hour later. It’s like reaching into a coat pocket and finding $20 in cash; you don’t celebrate it until it happens.
This year I used my “extra hour” to watch a TV show that had very little value. It wasn’t my best choice of the year. At the time I probably justified the waste of time as inconsequential. I may have whispered to myself, “it’s been a hard year, I deserve to waste an hour on this show.” In some sense, I was rewarding myself for "making it this far.” That night when I went to bed I didn’t say to myself, “I’m so much richer for watching TV this evening!”
The last 18 months of this ‘pandemic world’ have opened the door to more media influence and time spent in front of screens than any other time in my life. I have read fewer books and indulged in entertainment far too much.
Before you label me as anti-television or anti-entertainment, I want to set the record straight – there is certainly time and space for us to take in good things digitally. The problem that I’m finding in my own life is that media is like an army that keeps advancing on my life. A show on Netflix secures a beachhead and before I know it there is a full-scale binging invasion stealing my attention and priorities. It doesn’t take very long after downloading a new game on my iPad before I want to stay up late into the night so that I can get that hit of dopamine in my brain when passing another level or earning another star for my stellar game playing performance.
In these experiences, we might even tell ourselves, this is the only place in life that I’m winning at anything.
Is this all there is?
Now I have landed in December 2021, and many of the things that were not happening have restarted. I have been assaulted by decisions on both what to add back to my life, and what I need to say no to. Many of us are now hopelessly over-committed, wondering, what happened to all the time I had before. If you are like me, you almost feel angry when someone asks you to spend time doing “another thing.” The margins in our time have disappeared and we are wondering if this is all there is to life… what happened to the idea that we could live “life to the fullest?” (John 10:10)
My declaration of dependence on Jesus in this season.
I am determined and committed to recovering my life and walking in more of Jesus’ invitation to live life to the fullest. In this season, I am exploring all options to live a more meaningful, emotionally present life.
I am an empowered Overcomer.
My identity will not be shaped around the victim mindset. Jesus says that I am an overcomer, and I am empowered to make choices with the time that I have.
Recently I have started addressing some small areas of self-discipline regarding my diet and self-care. While my life has been more than full with work responsibilities and caring for my wife as she heals from surgery, there is still time and space for me to decide to do what is healthy for me.
We don’t have a lack of time; God has provided all the time that we need to do what He has called us to do.
Eugene Peterson paraphrases Matthew 11:28-30 this way,
“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 – and 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 you resonate with the way that Peterson paraphrases Jesus?
Do you feel stuck in the patterns of your life?
Have you been longing for a richer, fuller life, but just feel like you can’t get out of the rut?
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
-Albert Einstein
Many of us live our lives this way. We have grand plans, hopes, expectations about living with and for God, but things keep boomeranging back to the way they have always been. Same temptations, same cycles, same results.
Some of us have lost hope that we will ever get a breakthrough…
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace with Jesus.
So in these last 21 days of the year, I am focusing more on how I spend my time, how I take care of my body, what I’m learning, where I’m creating, who I’m spending time with, and how I’m connecting with Jesus.
I’m reading books and trying new rhythms. I’m asking lots of questions about healthy rhythms and trying new schedules. I am pushing into the spiritual disciplines and confronting hard spaces in my heart.
Will you join me and do the same as we finish 2021?
Let’s ask the questions and seek Jesus for his “unforced rhythms of grace.”
As we start 2022, I will be sharing a series of messages to challenge us to walk with Jesus according to his pace and rhythm, not our own. I’m hopeful and excited that as we walk with Jesus in these days, He will shape us and lead us to more and more life to the fullest.
I look forward to seeing all of you this coming Sunday, Dec. 12th at 10:00 a.m. in the Dome.
You can also live stream our 10:00 a.m. service on Facebook and YouTube.
If you missed last week's message Advent 2021 #2 "God Is Love" (Pastor Alyssa Read) click here.
Need encouragement? You can receive a word of encouragement each day. Text the word Encourage to 530.296.3689. You will be added to the list to receive an encouraging scripture or quote from me each day that is sent right to your phone.
Leaders (and potential leaders): you can also text Lead to 530.296.3689 to be on the list to receive a thought, quote, or a challenge from me daily (or most days) regarding leadership.
