What if time with God became something you enjoyed rather than a spiritual duty? Read an excerpt from my recent talk, then listen to the full message below.
For years, I knew there was more to the Christian life than what I was experiencing.
I grew up in the church, fell in love with Jesus early in life, and was blessed to sit under several faithful pastors who rightly handled the Word of God. I was hungry to learn, and I listened voraciously to sermon cassette tapes in my car.
But somewhere along the way, listening to others teach me the Bible became a substitute for learning how to enjoy God’s Word for myself. I wanted to rest in God’s presence and delight in his Word, but a subtle shift happened in my mindset. My time in the Word became my spiritual duty rather than my delight.
I would read verses that made me ask, “Is this all there is?”
David’s picture of a Christian’s time with God was beautiful and mysterious. If this was what it was supposed to be, then I was definitely missing out.
He wrote:
“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
—Psalm 16:11
I was pretty sure that if I were experiencing fullness of joy or pleasures forevermore, I would know. Or David later wrote of his single-hearted, single-minded pursuit of dwelling in God’s presence. He said:
“One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.”
—Psalm 27:4
One thing.
Could my Christian life be boiled down to one thing? Paul used similar language when he wrote, “One thing I do,” before describing his pursuit of the prize and finish line of living for Christ (Phil. 3:13–14).
I wanted Jesus to be my one thing. But if I were truthful, I often wanted his gifts more than I wanted the Giver.
Discovering Holy Leisure
My struggle to enjoy God and his Word plagued me for decades. I would try to be consistent and meet with God, only to fall off the bandwagon a few weeks (or days!) later. Long gaps marked my meeting time with the Lord.
This bothered me, and I wanted desperately to grow in my faith. I assumed my problem was my lack of discipline. Surely, if I became more disciplined, delight would follow.
Then one day, while reading a book on spiritual disciplines, I came across a quote that changed everything.
“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.” — Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
I read that passage to my husband and asked, “What does that mean? Holy leisure? Whatever that is, I want it.”
It sounded almost contradictory.
How do you pursue rest with ruthless determination?
That question set me on a journey that changed the way I understood my identity in Christ and my time with the Lord.
I began to see holy leisure not as a new spiritual technique, but as a gracious way of living out the Christian life. Over time, holy leisure began to make more sense to me, and I could see how to apply it in every sphere of life.
I define holy leisure as a mindset, or heart posture, that seeks unhurried enjoyment of Jesus through his Word and prayer. It is learning to rest in Christ rather than striving to earn something from him.
I began to see four practices that help us live from that posture.
They spell REST.
How to Rest in Christ
To pursue holy leisure and rest in our walk with him, we must…
- R—Remain in Christ
- E—Enjoy him in the Everyday
- S—Sit at His Feet, and
- T—Tarry in Prayer
To learn more about my story and REST, I invite you to listen to this talk I gave at my church, where I unpack each of these four practices and what they have taught me about pursuing holy leisure.
As you listen, consider for yourself: What is your one thing?
Are you chasing a lot of lesser things, hoping they will satisfy your soul? Or are you learning to enjoy Jesus and live for him?
Your Christian life is not the sum total of your consistent practices, your good works for the kingdom, or your perfect attendance in God’s Word. At its center is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which unites you to him and him to you.
And because you are united to Christ, you get to enjoy communion with him.
That is the REST your soul wants most of all.
Cara
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I’d love to serve your church, retreat, or conference with biblical teaching that helps women know and enjoy God more deeply. Fill out this brief form, and I’ll be in touch.