Message Notes
From Burnout to Balance
Today: Slowing Down
January 11, 2004

 

Top Signs You are Too Busy

  1. Minute Rice is just waaaayyyy to slow.

  2. On the way to work, you shave, eat breakfast, and get dressed.

  3. You have more caffeine before 6 a.m. than most people do, ever.

  4. You find that removing your car's brakes gets you places much faster.

  5. You've switched from decaf to Tabasco sauce.

  6. You hire people to bathe for you.

  7. Your spouse takes care of the children while you are vaguely aware that there are some short people hanging around your house.

  8. You find that Cliff notes are too wordy.

  9. You are no longer bothered by the third degree burns to your mouth when you eat your food directly from the oven.

 

 

EFFECTS OF A HURRIED LIFESTYLE

1) I Feel MORE STRESS

2) I Lose MY JOY
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.


3) I Am LESS PATIENT WITH THOSE CLOSE TO ME


4) I Am LESS PRODUCTIVE

Proverbs 18:9  One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

 

5) I Have LESS ENERGY

 

6) I Usually Can’t HEAR GOD

Psalm 46:10a Be sill, and know that I am God…

 

HOW TO START SLOWING YOUR PACE

1) Stop THE CONSTANT PUSH FOR MORE

Proverbs 18:21a The tongue has the power of life and death…


Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.


Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

 

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

 

Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body but envy rots the bones.

 

2) Learn TO SAY “NO”

Proverbs 20:25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider his vows.

 

3) Obey THE SABBATH

Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

 

Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God…

 

 

4) Learn to WAIT ON GOD’S TIMING

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

 

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD .

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Dear God, thank You for bringing me here.  I knew something was missing in my life, I just didn’t know it was you.  Thank You for seeking me even when I’ve ignored You.  Today, I recognize the gift that You sent at Christmas. Today, Jesus, I want to accept You into my life and I ask you to forgive me for all of the things I’ve done wrong.  I want to accept Your gift of help to help me in the present time.  I want to accept Your gift of eternal life for the future.  I ask You, Jesus Christ, to start changing me from the inside out beginning right now. In your name I pray, Amen.