space for selah
I’m not very good at building margins and space into my life. I never have been.
My people-pleasing, perfectionistic, and workaholic ways crowd out any real possibility of healthy margin and breathing room in my life.
When I lack the space to just be, even when my time is filled with everything I love, a crash-and-burn is inevitable.
Been there. Done that. Lived to blog about it.
It takes intentionality to build space into my life. But when I do, my heart is better for it. And so is everything that stems from my heart. My writing, my relationships, my perspective…
A little bit of space goes a long way. Especially when it’s a built-in consistent part of my life.
A healthy life rhythm has space built in.
Reminds me of the story of the woman with the issue of blood. I’ve always loved that passage because it vividly shows me that God is passionate about healing my heart and not just my body. But it also demonstrates a valuable lesson for my heart.
You remember the story, right? The woman pressed through the crowd on her hands and knees, grabbed the hem of Jesus’ robe, and was instantly healed.
And the Bible tells us that Jesus felt power go out of Him as soon as she touched Him.
It’s unavoidable: Ministry is draining.
If Jesus felt the effects of it, we certainly will.
Serving others, speaking God’s truth, and sharing our lives, tires us out. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. We feel it when we spend ourselves for others.
Even when we are doing what we love.
Maybe even more so when we are doing what we love. Because then we have to force ourselves to seek space for our hearts.
Building space into our lives means paying more attention to what and who drains us, as well as what and who refuels us.
When we have space to be and to soak up that which fuels our hearts, then our gifts, passions, and creativities will flourish.
Have you ever noticed the Hebrew word Selah in the book of Psalms? While there’s debate over its full meaning, many take it to be a rest. Similar to the rest symbol in sheet music, it signifies the need to pause and soak things in.
Our lives need Selahs written into them.
We need to intentionally create space for Selah in our lives, forcing us to pause, slow down, pull back, and rest. When we do, life is more full. Not just busy, but abundant.
Selah, friends. Selah.
What does space and Selah look like to you?
What and who refuels you?
This post was inspired by the Luminous Project. Luminous is an event for creatives on May 9-11, 2012 in Nashville. To find out more, check out LuminousProject.com. You can use the promo code luminousLOVE to get 30% off the ticket price.
@_kingsdaughters says:
It’s funny you should mention that! I wrote an entire chapter on Selah in my new book which is coming out in March – He Restores My Soul – http://kingsdaughters21.blogspot.com/2012/01/he-restores-my-soul.html
One thing we are terrible at as Christians is rest, something I have sorted out in my own life as it is really, really important.
Lots of Love
Angela
x
First, I didn’t know there was a debate over what that means. I was always taught it meant, “Stop, and think about that.”
What does Selah look like in my life? Good question. Lately, I have had to intentionally put time in my day for reflection, prayer, journaling, etc. It has taken me time to build this into my day, with the demands of 5 kids and a husband, it has been rough. I have failed much, but I am intentionally pursuing to change and to put God first in all things. It goes against my natural man, but that’s ok, but I want to be a supernatural woman living for God/Jesus all my days in all my ways.
As always, thank you for sharing your heart. <3
For me, selah is intentionally taking time that is unscheduled, unplanned. Allowing my mind to freely wander, to be grateful and to tink about what is most important.
@jeffgoins says:
Our lives need selahs written into them. Love it.
@hckclbgwi.net says:
Yes. And isn’t it interesting that after the God of the universe created earth and everything on it, on the seventh day (however long each creative day might have been—not necessarily as few as 24 actual hours)—he rested! I take that example, and the one Jesus showed us, and take the time to stop, rest, think, relax. Spend time outside. No work on that day. It could be any day of the week, but I’ve chosen Sunday. First, morning services at my place of worship. Afterward, r..e..s..t.. (see above). Experience has taught me that if I don’t do this, after a period of time my mind will shut down, and then I’ll get sick with something or other. It isn’t worth it. God knows what he’s talking about. He knows what we need.
@cmagnino says:
I too am guilty of crowding out all margin in my life…
Our lives need selahs written into them.
This is the word for me today. A constant reminder for space.
Thank you for this post.
@fmckinnon says:
AMEN — great post. This was the premise of our “Refuge” retreat we did last year (refugessi.com). I also, as a worship pastor, have started creating some quiet, “soaking” worship times in the mornings, before people go to work, where they can slip in to our sanctuary at church, and just have those selah moments. Had our first one last week and it was so peaceful and encouraging.
For me, I have to just stop and remind myself that a beautiful beach and ocean is only a mile or so away, and drive down and just walk — feel the salty breeze in my face … it renews me in incredible ways.
Thanks for the reminder!
margin… deep breath… margin. love.
A silent place from all of the voices that barrage us everyday – that is what margin is to me :)
@julespreever says:
Over the years I’ve learned that if I don’t intentionally take time for selahs, then my body will shut down for a day. I’ll get sick, and it will linger on for weeks. And more than just physically. I’m a big hot mess without those times of rest. Great post.
@Soulstops says:
So true, Alece. I have also done the crash and burn. What nourishes my soul is making sure I have time with God, and with my family and friends, and my Pilates class once a week (hopefully). Praying that you have the “Selah” you need :)
@mattygfresh says:
I actually wrote a worship song called “Selah” a couple years back that has become a favorite amongst the people at my church. It’s primarily about taking time to reflect on God’s Glory, but it also talks about how we can’t ever know everything about God (encompassed in the mysterious of the word ‘Selah’) and that the unknowable mystery of Him is a part of what makes Him worthy to be praised.
Anyway, to answer your question, Selah to me is intentionally seeking out and being in community with Christians outside of my church. Those who don’t expect anything of me and where I can just be. I find my Selah mostly by attending a couple of home groups through a different church than the one where I’m on staff and by just hanging out with Christians with whom I don’t go to church.
I actually used to feel guilty about this until I remember that even Jesus built in space to go off to the mountain by himself to pray. :)
Thank you so much for your post. I’m not in full-time ministry, I just volunteer in my local church. I have been battling for months on whether or not I should just quit the area I volunteer in. To be honest I’m just fed up and tired. I need a selah…….
This song, “Still” by Watermark, had always (ok, at least since I first heard it!) has ministered to my spirit over and over at this very point. Hope it blesses your heart too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRhblSLKRJE
“Still” is my OneWord this year (after an epic fail at “gentleness” last year!). I have to admit that I haven’t spent much time focusing on it yet, but it does pop up from time to time. And I’m reminded …
@TomMartinATL says:
The margin we have is a result of the choices we make. No big revelation there, but usually the lack of margin in my life is a result of me choosing to chase my ego’s need for approval by taking on more than what is healthy.
Busy is only better when you set aside time (selah) to celebrate what you completed before moving on to the next item on that “to-accomplish” list.
I am such a STRONG believer in this. Rest is Biblical and necessary for us to be in God’s will.
@lindseyfoj says:
You inspire me.
That is all.
….for now! ;-)
taking the time to write in my book or get on my treadmill is my Selah/refueling moment. either activity allows me to reflect, open my mind, and just relax. There’s nothing like a good treadmill session with a good play list!
The best Christian I ever met, and one of the most effective, was a Welshman I knew in Portugal and the UK. He told me it was a great lie that God needs us. He said God chooses to use us, but he had created the universe without us, so why would he need us individually for the work of the Holy Spirit to get done? Having said that, we are by grace invited to serve. When we feel obligated to go on beyond our resources out of guilt or compulsion, we have lost our source. Burn out ensues. Churches too often use our guilt to manipulate us into preserving programs rather than listening to God.
Elijah was told sometimes to eat and sleep, not always to speak for God.
Hope this makes a little sense.
@e_j_reading says:
You are so right. I am learning to build margins into my life… the hard way. I love the point you make about it being even more of a conscious effort when we are doing what we love. Very true, often overlooked. x