Slower time is better time

“Abide in me, and I in you.” That’s what Jesus says in John 15:4.

The idea of “abiding” with Jesus presumes closeness and time. In other words, it presumes that we are drawing near to him, and that we are prioritizing him in our schedules.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the phrase ‘Slowing down in Jesus.’ This doesn’t mean reducing how fast you drive or pretending that your day-to-day schedule isn’t as busy as it is. It’s about closeness and time.

It’s about pausing and praying. It’s about paying deliberate attention to his words. It’s about stuffing one less thing into the schedule, so we can be more available to help someone who may need some encouragement.

And that’s the thing. Slower time in Christ means better time with everyone else.

As we spend time with him, we can’t not be changed. His words actually sink in. His Spirit works. We see ourselves with greater clarity. We appreciate our need for grace. When our days start to become less blurry, we can more quickly see his image in his other children.

Increasingly, his light will seep through us and toward the people we love whom God has put into our lives.

Time with God isn’t taking time away from others—it’s investing in them.

Do you want the time you spend with other people to be of a certain quality? Do you want it to count? Do you want to bless them, even though you often feel flawed?

If so, slow down in Christ.

Let him transform you, day by day. Don’t be casual with him. He wants a commitment, not an occasional text. The best thing you can do for other people is to draw closer to the One whose hope, wisdom and self-sacrificial love make all things new. As he blesses you, you will be a vessel of blessing to others.

Slower time in Christ means better time with everyone else.