UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE

It is July already!
I can imagine that this information represents good news to some. It’s probably their birth month or wedding month or just half of “the best year ever”.

For others, they honestly wish they could share in the enthusiasm. You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you hear “It's July already” and you have an exhausting list of unmet expectations. That moment when you realize that the year has actually gone half and you wonder how it happened because the last time you checked it was February. Kindly say a private ‘Ummmhhhhmmm’ if you know how it feels to go back to your diary and realize that you are 370 degrees away from those wonderful resolutions you made on the 1st day of the year.

For me, everything seemed so prim and proper at the beginning of the year. I knew where I was going, and I felt unstoppable. This is July and somehow I feel lost …lost my direction, focus, zeal and probably myself. I had begun to feel I was going round the motions, and life seemed tasteless. Feeling all so dejected and left out in the world, I decided to loaf around in The Word. I honestly had no precise direction in mind but I sought hope... and Hope I found.

I thought it was business as usual because it was really unexpected and totally unassuming. Maybe it was the timing or the regalia The Word was clad in (Message Bible) but something was new. As The Word began to speak, I had to stop, I stopped right there in my mental tracks. I processed these words, and drank in every syllable. At first, I wasn’t sure I heard well, but then the words have not stopped resonating in my spirit;

“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 (MSG)

It was so timely- words spoken in due season. For the first time, I realized that Grace had a rhythm - an unforced rhythm. It means that grace - the life of ease, and unmerited divine assistance from God to man, had a rhythm- a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.

In those few words, I knew Hope beckoned me to retreat. I had gotten so burnt out on work, religion, and life; I had lost my grace rhythm. I was like someone on the dance floor still dancing to a fast tempo song when it had changed to a slower one. It is no wonder I felt exhausted. It was time to walk, work and watch Him; see how He did it.

If you can relate with this, then you probably might be needing some 'alone time' to retreat. Refusing to retreat is like a writer who refuses to take a break after he has hit a writer’s block…

Do not struggle through the year, when you can actually get away with Him and recover your life.
#Selah
  
Have a blessed weekend.