Slow Faith
There has been a lot of talk about the slow food movement (I’m all for it) and about slow living in general. It is wise to slow down or you will miss what’s most important in life. What about slow church or slow faith – is there such a thing?
Slow faith
As much as we need to slow down to enjoy life we need to slow down to encounter Jesus. If we keep on rushing around and speeding on the fast track, we miss the precious beauty of everyday life and, most importantly, we miss the echoes of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Hence, we need slow faith. We need to slow down enough to let God to set the grace-filled tune and tempo for our lives.
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63, NLT,*)
Seize God
Slow faith gives God the right to intervene any time and select the ultimate time for everything. Scary? Probably. But, most of all, it is life-giving and peace-inducing. Slow faith brings forth fruit of the Spirit in God’s time. And slow faith blesses us according to God’s plan to us, not according to our own “gimme-everything-right now” plan that leads us away from eternal life. That’s why we are blessed by slow faith. More than we ever could be on the fast track. So, slow down, my friend. Seize the day, seize God.
Gracious God,
Forgive us for rushing through life
without slowing down and embracing you.
Help us to cultivate slow faith
according to your plan and timing.
Come and refresh our faith, Lord.
Pour out grace upon grace and
show us how to enjoy life with you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: Do you cultivate slow faith?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you slow down and seize God!
* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses toBiblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].
Image via creationswap.com, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Five-minute Friday.
8 thoughts on “Slow Faith”
I’m afraid that in some ways, the Bride has embraced the culture and gotten caught up in a frenzied pace full of activities instead of slowing our souls down from their frantic pace and enjoying Him. Thank you for sharing this. Visiting from FMF!
pat(lookingawaytohim.blogspot.com)
Yes, I think so too. Faith is supposed to be simple. Thank you for commenting, Pat. God Bless you!
Such a great reminder! So hard to keep that focus in North America that moves at the speed of light. Praying for God to anoint you for writing.
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
Yes it is. And thank you for your prayer, Amen. Blessings to you, Sherry! Thanks for stopping by! xoxoxox
Recently, I read the phrase “paying fierce attention” and it has stayed with me in this hurry-up life.
Such a good phrase! Thanks for sharing, Michele! Have a blessed weekend!
Beautiful post, Mari-Anna! I love the prayer you wrote.
Thanks, Sarah! God is good – all the time. Blessings to you!