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UNHURRY HACK: Make time for discipleship. Who in your life has nurtured your spiritual growth? A parent or grandparent? Perhaps there were others in your life who “spiritually” raised you and shepherded you. God carefully tucks these men and women into the background of our story, leading you and I to the places we are today. Check out 5 ways to honor people who nudge us to Jesus (see below). FIRST READ Matthew 21:1-5 (NIV) : As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” A colt--the foal of a donkey. In human terms, this was a baby boy. And this baby boy, so to speak, had been chosen on this Kingdom day to carry the Messiah, who came as a baby boy also humbly born in a manger stall. Words of prophecy were fulfilled as Christ prepared to enter Jerusalem as her King (Zechariah 9:9). Tucked into the background of this moment, there is a sweet picture of motherhood. Tucked into the background of this moment, there is a sweet picture of motherhood. Jesus sends two disciples to retrieve both donkey and colt. Notice the tender language used in verse 2, “with her colt by her,” and “the Lord needs them.” Verses 6-10 further tell that the disciples did as they were commanded, bringing the donkey and colt to Jesus, then spread their garments over the colt for Jesus to ride. Mama donkey is not mentioned in the other gospel accounts, but we are blessed here with a precious detail and encouragement for all who shepherd little ones. Matthew, a former tax collector, would have been conditioned to record details, especially those concerning personal property. God certainly wastes nothing in our life for His glory and our ultimate good! As this colt prepared to toddle down crowded and unfamiliar streets, his mama would be by his side. This mama would nudge her little one to honor and obey Jesus. She would model for him the way to follow Jesus’ commands. She would teach this little one about humble serving. Her presence would reassure him, guide him, and comfort him in the presence of loud voices and waving palm branches while Jesus made his regal entrance. Raising and shepherding children of all ages can be tiring and thankless. And to the mothers, teachers, and mentors, be encouraged today! While it feels routine at times to be tucked into the background story of our little ones, God is doing big things for big days on His Kingdom calendar through our small daily nudges. Keep pointing them to Jesus! Make time for discipleship. Whether you are discipling children or your peers, the moments we spend teaching others how to follow Jesus is valuable! In our fast-paced world it is tempting to think we don't have time. In our look-at-me world, it is easy to think we don't measure up. In our hard-to-impress world, it feels like we need big programs and credentials. In reality, a willing heart is all it takes. With sincerity and intentionality, we can nudge others to Jesus while we are learning to do the same. ...a willing heart is all it takes. Thank those who've nudged you. May this account in Matthew encourage us to say thank you to mothers who discipled us. And perhaps there were others in your life who “spiritually” raised you and shepherded you. God carefully tucked these men and women into the background of your story, leading you to the place where you are today. Who in your life has nurtured your walk and nudged you to Jesus? 5 ways we can honor people who nudge us to Jesus: THANK - Write a note telling her about the difference she made in your life. TREAT - Invite her to coffee or other small gesture to enjoy her company. TELL - Sharing your testimony of your spiritual growth not only honors her, but may encourage others to do the same. TRAIN - Become a mentor. Use what you have learned from her and continue making disciples. TAKE AFTER JESUS - This is the ultimate way to honor anyone who disciples us--let your life reflect Jesus! JOIN ME IN PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the many people you have woven into the background of my story in order to teach me Your Story. Show me “little colts” in this world who need to be nudged to Jesus. Teach me how to point them to Your love and grace. May I serve you with a joyful heart in the routine-ness of my day today. In Jesus Name, amen.

UNHURRY HACK: God meets us in our weariness and provides true nourishment and rest. First read 1 Kings 19:5-7 Key Verse: Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 1 Kings 19:7 I love naps, but I sure do fight them. In many ways I am still the toddler who has 100 reasons for not resting when it's time. It feels good to sleep, so why is it so hard to meet this most basic need of the body? Here are 5 areas adults fight nap time: Fear of missing out - Everyone else is going full steam ahead. I should too. Guilt - Naps are for lazy people. No time - There are things to do and so little time. Value other things - I think I'll watch a movie or scroll through social media instead. Denial - I'm not really tired, I just need some more caffeine. And there are likely more! God values our worth ethic, but it's easy to forget, He also values our commitment to rest. It's a reminder I need daily. After the completion of a huge ministry project, I found myself depleted. I was physically exhausted, brain tired, and emotionally spent. This all seemed to bleed into my spiritual well-being too. I needed God's Word, but my eyes only fluttered. I needed conversation with God, but my prayers only trailed off in weary thought. My house needed cleaning, new projects needed starting, and it was time to catch up with my friends and family, but it would all have to wait. My body was crying out for rest. I knew from previous years that this annual project would wear me out, but somehow I had once again underestimated the full toll it would take on me. Likewise, I had neglected to plan for my needed recovery. I love people, but as an introvert, I know that time alone is an important piece of my recharge. Was I listening to God's instructions for nurturing my body? The body He intricately wove together and knows more about than even I do? The enemy wants us to feel failure and so my body fought each of the 5 areas listed above. But the Holy Spirit faithfully reminded me that rest is being a good steward to a tired and spent body. The Bible is full of wisdom and instruction about needed rest. Here is one of my favorites. These words are spoken to Elijah in the Old Testament, and they still minister to us today. Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 1 Kings 19:5-6 Elijah had different circumstances than us today, but God met him in his weariness and provided nourishment and rest, so he could refuel get back to serving God. It wasn't time to give up, it was time to rest up! The same is true for you and me. With that wisdom, Gradually, I closed the laundry room door. Not today. Gradually, I closed my laptop. Not today. Gradually, I put away recipe books and shopping lists. Not today. I ordered pizza, grabbed a book, and put comfy pants on. I cleared the day, rested, and napped. It was good and necessary. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 1 Kings 19:7 Don't you love how God knows just what we need? Oh that we would listen and receive His nurture and care. Lord, teach us to value sleep at night, healthy rhythms of activity, and restful pauses in our day. The Bible says plenty about avoiding laziness, and this can be hard to justify rest. Yet, read in context we see wisdom in avoiding a foolish life without self-discipline and responsibility. For example, Proverbs 6:6 says: Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Rest is a blessing. Psalm 4:8 reminds us: "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 127:2 says, It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Romans 12:11 reminds us that adequately resting our body allows us to love, serve, and enjoy God well: "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically." Is God calling you to a nap today? Consider the rest your body needs today. Are you recovering from a big event, project, or even an illness? Rest is a blessing. Then consider daily needs. Am I staying up too late or am I giving my body the rest it needs? JOIN ME IN PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for rest. It feels good to live with a healthy body, but I can't do it on my own. I confess my need of self-discipline and self-control. Holy Spirit, cultivate these in me, minister, and teach me to make wise choices daily for my body. It is Your temple Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

UNHURRY HACK: Distracted by the shiny lure of the world around us, it is easy to think we need something better than God’s best. First read: Psalm 101 and 1 Samuel 12 Key verse: 1 Samuel 12:20 “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. Gosh, we mean well. Yet, oh how we miss the mark. And sometimes, we just fall off the mark completely and go our own way. Distracted by the shiny lure of the world around us, it is easy to think we need something better than God’s best. Praise the Lord, our big mistakes are not greater than our Big God! God loves His children, and that includes you and me and every other follower of Christ today. One of many displays of His great love and mercy can be found in 1 Samuel 12. The Israelites want a human king to lead them, totally disregarding the fact that they already have the perfect King. The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20) Samuel (whom God had called as a prophet and judge) warns them, takes their request to God, and tells them: “you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king reign over us’--even though the Lord your God is your king.” (1 Samuel 12:12) ...EVEN THOUGH THE LORD YOUR GOD IS YOUR KING Don’t these words pierce your heart? How many requests have you and I made that disregard God’s perfect provision? How many times do we let the world dictate our needs? How many times do I forget and trust in what I can only see? God allows them to have a King. The Israelites may have only had selfish reasons, but God had a plan all along to rescue His people. “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel. He will save them from the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of my people, for their cry has come to me.” (1 Samuel 9:16) Saul is anointed king, but in the face of trouble he acts foolishly and disobeys God (1 Samuel 13:13-14). This leads to God appointing David as the new ruler and king and also the family line through which Jesus would be born. God’s perfect plan always prevails. His mercies are unending. Thanks be to God that even when we make mistakes or foolish decisions, it is not the end. Samuel counsels God’s people of this and we are wise to listen today: Samuel replied, “Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart. Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless. The Lord will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people. (1 Samuel 12: 20-22) Samuel then promises to pray for them and he admonishes all the people to fear the LORD, worship with all their heart, and consider all the things God has done already in their past. (1 Samuel 13:23-24) Thankfully our big mistakes are not bigger than our Great God! So the next time we find ourselves in the face of a foolish mistake: DON’T turn away from following the Lord. Instead worship Him with ALL your heart. DO turn away from worthless things that can’t save us. God never leaves us! He loves you and me by His great name and by His covenant love! Read Psalm 101 and let it guide your prayer today for a renewed heart and focus to worship God with all of your heart. Verses 2-3 state: I will live with a heart of integrity in my house. I will not let anything worthless guide me. Join me in prayer today: Open the eyes of my heart, Jesus YOU are the world’s perfect Lord and King! Open the eyes of my heart, Jesus YOU are my perfect Lord and King! Unhurry our hearts today, that we may worship you! Amen

As Seen In I love to tell others about the unhurried heart. Here are a few resources to encourage you today! Crosswalk Regular Contributor for "Crosswalk.com" and "Your Daily Prayer" Contributing Author Shepherd On Duty is a compilation of writings from over 20 authors. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful project. Each promis e is paired with a short devotional and encouraging scriptural references that highlight a promise of God. Proverbs 31 Ministries "Surrendering Isn't The Same As Giving Up" by Megan Evans Guest on Anchored in Always Podcast June 6, 2021 Episode NEW! Interactive Devotional Book Permission to Walk by Megan E vans will reset every heart trapped in the hustle and rush of today's busy world. This devotional offers practical solutions that you can immediately implement to re-hydrate areas of spiritual dehydration and re-focus your faith. Readers will embark on a journey that begins at the heart level, reveals why we struggle with hurry and distraction and offers teaching strategies and biblical truths to walk with Jesus during your busy day. Guest on Anchored on His Heartbeat Podcast May 12, 2022 Episode 39

Resources Holy Week Reading Plan Prepare your heart for Easter by reading the Holy Week events. Download here: Monthly Prayer Calendar free resource available for prayer Resource Coming Soon free resource will be available to download 4 AREAS TO PRAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN Grow them to be disciples Resource Coming Soon free resource will be available to download Resource Coming Soon free resource will be available to download

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