Learn to Pause and Pray Before Adding to Your Schedule - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - December 27, 2020
Learning to pause and pray before adding new commitments to your schedule can help you slow down and make more intentional decisions, ultimately leading to a more manageable pace of life. By asking yourself if an activity is worth it, what you'll give up, and whether saying no is the best option, you can avoid burnout and create space for what truly matters.
Learn to Pause and Pray Before Adding to Your Schedule By Rick Warren
“It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.” Proverbs 20:25 (NIV)
When you learn to pause and pray before making a decision, you are helping to slow your life down to a more manageable level.
Proverbs 20:25 says, “It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows” (NIV).
What is God saying? Ponder before promising. Deliberate before deciding. Muse before you choose. Reflect before you select. Consider your commitments prayerfully and carefully. Pause and pray before deciding. That will slow your life down.
One thing I’ve learned the hard way is you can’t just keep adding things to your schedule without eliminating other things. Every time you add a new activity to your schedule, you need to take something off.
One of my mentors, Peter Drucker, is considered by many to be the founder of modern management. He used to say to me, “Don’t tell me what new thing you’re doing. Tell me what you’ve stopped doing.”
The mark of leadership is knowing what to stop and what to cut out. If you’re burning the candle at both ends, you’re not as bright as you think you are. You’re going to burn out!
Do you have a hard time cutting out activities from your schedule? When you’re faced with an opportunity, you need to do three things:
1. Ask, “Is it worth it?” Is it worth your time, energy, effort, reputation, or money?
2. Ask, “What am I going to give up?” Consider the cost.
3. Consider saying “no.” It’s the greatest time-saver in life!
Before adding to your already full schedule, pause and prayerfully work through these three steps. Over time, you’ll find your life slowed down to a manageable pace.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Your Gift Brings Hope to the World
Thank you for helping restore broken hearts with the hope of Jesus!
I am so grateful to be on mission with you! Your gift today is a bold statement that you want to be a light in this world and make an eternal impact for Jesus Christ.
As thanks for your gift, we’re excited to send you the "Hope Is Born: A Christmas Scripture Collection" Scripture cards. This set of 52 beautifully designed cards brings the joy of the season to life, each sharing a powerful verse celebrating the hope and wonder of Jesus’ birth.
Request yours below when you give, and thank you for going on mission to reach our world with the love of Jesus!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of “current offer” materials you received from Daily Hope.
_638979300394061748.webp)
