Keep the BeatSample

DAY 7: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

There is a popular children’s book about Alexander and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I think we’ve all probably had days like that. At times, I struggle with some trauma-induced anxieties. One night, I received a series of text messages that triggered all sorts of anxious feelings. The texts were innocuous for the most part, but that didn’t matter. The sender and the context were enough that my mind and body started shutting down. When I woke up the next morning, I felt paralyzed. As I drove to work, I just kept thinking, “I am broken. This person has broken me.”

When I pulled into my parking space at work, I didn’t get out. I sat in my car for thirty minutes, trying to process how I was feeling and make sense of why I felt so anxious. After a half an hour, it was evident that I wasn’t going to be unable to function at work, so I texted my team that I was taking a personal day and I drove off.

I ended up at a prayer trail on a local church campus. I grabbed my phone, my ear buds, and my Bible, and started walking the wooded path. At first, I just listened to worship music. I couldn’t even bring myself to sing or pray. I needed to be reminded again about the goodness of God. I just listened and allowed the words to soothe my soul.

After some time, I began to sing too. Then, I turned to the Scriptures and found encouragement in Psalms 23 and 34 as I read them over and over. After nearly two hours of walking and listening and singing and reading, I began to pray to my father in heaven and express everything that I was feeling in that moment.

In prayer, I felt like God directed me to call a local counselor. He agreed to see me later that day. In my session with him, I was able to work through the anxiety I was feeling and to name it. In naming it, I was able to give it to Jesus.

When the day began, I was a complete mess. By day’s end, I was back in rhythm.

What helped me were the spiritual disciplines.

I found time and space to seek the Lord in a sabbath.

I gained a renewed faith and a better perspective through worship.

I was reminded of my place in God’s story and His great love for me in Scripture.

I connected with a Daddy who delights in me and hears my cries through prayer.

I found a place of belonging and a shepherd to care for me in the Church.

In K-12 education, we sometimes divide expectations into two groups—must-do’s and may-do’s—to guide students in what they should be working on and in what order.

For too long, the spiritual disciplines have been presented by church leaders as must-do’s, and failure to do them consistently has been met with shame and derision.

The only must-do’s for the Christian is to love the Lord with all of our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In doing so, we fulfill all the law and the prophets.

The spiritual disciplines are may-do’s that equip us for the must-do’s.

Worship and prayer are not a got-to, they’re a get-to. Sabbath and Scripture and Church are not an obligation; they are a gift.

May these gifts bring you grace and peace as you seek to find your rhythm and keep the beat.

REFLECTION

How can you incorporate the spiritual disciplines into your life in a way that will help you find your rhythm and keep the beat?

This plan was adapted from a chapter of Jim McKenzie’s book, One Generation to the Next: A Guide to Forming Your Faith and Finding Your Way. Order your copy today!