Today, my first book, The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places, is finally released to the world. This book has been a long time in the making—not simply in the writing of it, but in living it.
It was born out of my own struggle to enjoy being in God’s Word. I knew I was missing out on all God had for me, and I had tasted and seen that the Lord was good—so why was it so hard for me to make my quiet time a regular, joyful practice in my life?
Maybe my experience sounds similar to yours?
Why I wrote this book
(excerpt from the Introduction)
As a new Christian, I was taught to have a daily quiet time; however, when I couldn’t consistently wake up early or stick to a routine of reading and praying, I felt guilty and like a spiritual failure. When I finally found the time, I expected to have an emotional experience, but I ended up feeling distracted and sometimes bored.
This confused me because I loved the Word and reading books about the Bible, but I struggled to enjoy the Book for myself. I was embarrassed when other Christians talked about their quiet times and what the Lord was showing them while I struggled to enjoy opening its pages.
Almost imperceptibly, a shift happened in my mind. I began to think of my quiet time as an exercise of my will. It was like lifting weights or eating broccoli: it wasn’t something I always enjoyed, but it was good for me, and it would produce good rewards if I stuck with it. With this mindset, the practice that should have nourished my soul became a mental checklist to mark off before the day’s “real” work began. I felt hypocritical for proclaiming my love for Jesus and His Word while also secretly struggling to enjoy meeting with him.
One day, I picked up a book about spiritual disciplines (because clearly I struggled in that area). I came across a paragraph that stopped me in my tracks. Richard Foster, the author of The Celebration of Discipline, wrote,
“The church Fathers often spoke of Otium Sanctum, “holy leisure.” It refers to a sense of balance in life, an ability to be at peace through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, and an ability to pace ourselves. With our tendency to define people in terms of what they produce, we would do well to cultivate “holy leisure.” And if we expect to succeed in the contemplative way, we must pursue “holy leisure” with a determination that is ruthless to our diaries.”
I had never heard of otium sanctum or holy leisure before, but it sounded like everything I lacked and desperately wanted. I wanted to experience more balance and less guilt, peace and less anxiety, rest and less striving. And most of all, I wanted whatever this holy leisure thing was in my life.
The paradox of pursuing holy leisure
The pursuit of holy leisure is a glorious paradox of striving to enter rest. Foster said we must pursue it with ruthless determination. This aligns with what the writer of Hebrews said, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest” (4:11). When I began to learn about holy leisure, the rest, and the enjoyment I longed for in God’s Word, the kind that produced consistency and fruit, was just on the other side of changing my mindset about it. When I considered time with Jesus as a pursuit of holy leisure instead of a box I dutifully checked, it became a spiritual discipline I longed to participate in! After all, who doesn’t enjoy (and pursue) leisure?
Pursuing holy leisure is a mindset shift that shifts everything! In the same way, a pebble, when dropped into a pond, ripples out; the pursuit of holy leisure ripples into every area of influence. The book is divided into four parts to follow that inside-out progression.
- Part 1: The Hidden Places: In the hidden places of our walk with God, our union with Christ is established. This section explains how our union with Christ flows into our communion with him through his Word and prayer.
- Part 2: The Familiar Places: This section explains practical ways to let holy leisure form and transform the familiar places of home, work, community, and creativity.
- Part 3: The Hard Places: Our tools of holy leisure: God’s Word and prayer, prepare us for trials and temptations when they come.
- Part 4: The Fruitful Places: As holy leisure becomes a way of life, fruitfulness, fullness, and rest are the overflow.
An invitation into something better
If your walk with God feels like a check box or a duty you’re fulfilling. Or, if you secretly wonder if there’s more to the Christian life than what you’re experiencing, you’re not alone.
The Pursuit of Holy Leisure is an invitation to step out of striving and into a life marked by rest, delight, and deep communion with Christ—not just in your quiet times, but in the everyday places where your life naturally unfolds.
This book is for weary wrestlers. For those who long to enjoy God, and not just obey him, and for those who want to experience the fullness of joy that he promises (Ps. 16:11).
If that’s you, I’d love for you to join me in this pursuit.
Cara
P.S. Learn more about this resource that will transform your quiet time from duty to delight here.
P.P.S. One way you can support this book is by leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads.