Here's the passage: Just reading it will lower your RPM's and stress level. Try it. You'll see.
“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—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." (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)
Wow! Words that soothe the soul. Ahhhhh
Words that stick out to me:
Consider:
This would mean that the "no" from our a potential client won't rock us. It means that God knows that and we can too.... It means that whenever we find ourselves worried, weary or anxious, we're not in step in the unforced way.
Yes, seek excellence, but not at the expense of peace and perspective. Yes, let go of someone else's rage, because their way of force doesn't breathe life into us... and not them. However we don't have any control over them, do we?
Whenever we find ourselves pushing agenda, and "getting" others to do things that aren't working, we're not trusting. Our work may actually be the best arena for faith going.
Am I trying? Or am I trusting?
For many of us who sell our service, might the "unforced rhythm" involve seeing where others need what we have to offer instead of forcing fits that don't exist?
When we find where we can meet a need instead of sell a service or a product, doesn't that make everyone more peaceful and better for it?
Can the work we're called to drain and harm us 90% of the time? How about 80%? 50%?
Why wouldn't we shoot for 0%??? If we're really in the right place, doing the right things, our woke we may get tired, but not destroyed, frustrated or continually feeling used and abused. Just not right!
Heavy and ill-fitting work wasn't laid on us by God. Who put this work on us?
Finally, we realize that most other humans do not always operate in this "unforced rhythm." We expect they will get anxious, frazzled, offended and hurt. Our response: Forgive as we have been forgiven.
Might we actually accomplish much more real work and access real progress simply by living and working in this way?
I think of the quote from GK Chesterton as it relates to doing work according to the unforced rhythm of grace.
Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.
Might learning to work in the unforced rhythm of grace be similar? In many ways found difficult... and left untried?
Wanna try it?
To help you better plan and create more such unforced rhythms through your work - I created a tool I'd like to offer you as a gift. It's something I now use every single day and it MAKES A HUGE, HUGE difference.
It's a planner I now use to BOTH start my day and end my day by celebrating what worked. It's called THE REAL PROGRESS PLANNER. All on one simple page.
The goal is to help you make progress each day without the loss of focus or the overwhelm... and enjoy the ride!
Give it a shot! Print multiple copies. Best case do it for 21 days in a row. (And of course I'd LOVE to hear how it goes for you!)
Are You Ready to Experience Your Purpose@Work? Complimentary Book!
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