Living Wisely: Overcoming Hurry for Purposeful Life

 

Summary

In our fast-paced world, the challenge of living a life of wisdom and purpose is more pressing than ever. Reflecting on Psalm 90, we are reminded of the brevity of life and the importance of numbering our days to gain a heart of wisdom. This means investing our time in what truly matters, rather than letting it slip away in a hurried, default mode that leads to regret.

A conversation I had with Dallas Willard over 30 years ago remains pivotal. He advised me to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" from my life, emphasizing that hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life today. Hurry is not merely about being busy; it is a state of frantic effort driven by feelings of inadequacy, fear, and guilt. This state is incompatible with the peace, joy, and strength that God intends for us. While occasional hurry might be unavoidable, chronic hurry is detrimental to our well-being.

To combat this, we must first form a clear intention to live without hurry, focusing on just one day at a time. This involves cultivating a mental picture of our place in the world before God, recognizing that we are a small part of His grand project. By doing so, we can approach our daily tasks with a sense of calm and purpose.

Next, we should begin to eliminate unnecessary tasks, embracing the biblical principle of rest and doing nothing, as exemplified by the Sabbath. This helps us realize that God is at work even when we are not. Additionally, we must confront the reasons we struggle to say no, whether due to unclear purpose, fear of rejection, or a desire for approval. Finally, we need to deal with the panic of not being busy, allowing ourselves to feel it without succumbing to the addiction of adrenaline.

By following these steps, we can free ourselves from the tyranny of urgency and live a life aligned with God's purpose, bearing the easy yoke that Jesus offers.

Key Takeaways:

1. Numbering Our Days: Life is fleeting, and we must invest our time wisely to gain a heart of wisdom. This involves intentional living, focusing on what truly matters rather than letting life pass by in a hurried, default mode. [00:26]

2. Eliminating Hurry: Hurry is a state of frantic effort driven by inadequacy, fear, and guilt. It is the enemy of spiritual life, preventing us from experiencing the peace and joy God intends. We must ruthlessly eliminate hurry to live a life of purpose. [01:22]

3. Living with Intention: Forming a clear intention to live without hurry, one day at a time, allows us to focus on the present and approach our tasks with calm and purpose. This intentionality helps us align our lives with God's will. [05:12]

4. Embracing Rest: Eliminating unnecessary tasks and embracing rest, as exemplified by the Sabbath, reminds us that God is at work even when we are not. This practice helps us trust in God's provision and timing. [07:55]

5. Confronting Fear of Saying No: Understanding why we struggle to say no, whether due to unclear purpose or fear of rejection, empowers us to set boundaries and prioritize what truly matters. This clarity helps us live a life aligned with God's calling. [09:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - The Brevity of Life
- [00:26] - Gaining a Heart of Wisdom
- [00:58] - Conversation with Dallas Willard
- [01:22] - The Enemy of Spiritual Life
- [02:13] - Defining Hurry
- [03:11] - Living Without Hurry
- [04:03] - The Goal of Avoiding Hurry
- [04:52] - Forming a Clear Intention
- [05:47] - Cultivating a Mental Picture
- [07:15] - Eliminating Unnecessary Tasks
- [08:56] - The Struggle to Say No
- [10:12] - Dealing with Panic
- [10:50] - Wisdom for 2025
- [11:08] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 90:12 - "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
- Genesis 1:5 - "And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."
- Luke 9:51 - "As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."

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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 90:12, what is the purpose of numbering our days? How does this relate to gaining wisdom? [00:26]
2. In the sermon, what did Dallas Willard identify as the "great enemy of spiritual life"? How does this enemy manifest in our daily lives? [01:22]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between hurry and feelings of inadequacy, fear, and guilt? [02:49]
4. How does the concept of the Sabbath, as mentioned in Genesis 1:5, relate to the idea of rest and doing nothing? [07:55]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the practice of numbering our days help us live with intention and purpose, according to the sermon? [00:26]
2. What might be the spiritual consequences of living a hurried life, as described in the sermon? [01:22]
3. How does forming a clear intention to live without hurry, one day at a time, align with the biblical principle of living in the present? [05:12]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that eliminating unnecessary tasks can help us trust in God's provision and timing? [07:55]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there areas where you feel hurried or rushed? What steps can you take to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" from your life this week? [01:22]
2. Consider the tasks you engage in daily. Are there any that you can eliminate to embrace rest and trust in God's work? How will you decide which tasks to let go of? [07:55]
3. Think about a recent situation where you struggled to say no. What was the underlying reason for this struggle, and how can you address it to align more closely with God's calling? [09:26]
4. Identify a specific fear or feeling of inadequacy that drives you to hurry. How can you confront this fear and replace it with trust in God's plan? [02:49]
5. How can you cultivate a mental picture of your place in the world before God, recognizing your role in His grand project? What practical steps will you take to remind yourself of this perspective daily? [05:47]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt the panic of not being busy. How did you handle it, and what can you do differently next time to embrace peace and rest? [10:12]
7. Choose one day this week to practice living without hurry. What specific actions will you take to ensure this day is unhurried and focused on God's presence? [05:12]

Devotional

Day 1: Numbering Our Days with Purpose
Reflecting on the brevity of life, we are reminded of the importance of numbering our days to gain a heart of wisdom. This involves living intentionally, focusing on what truly matters rather than letting life pass by in a hurried, default mode. By recognizing the fleeting nature of our existence, we are encouraged to invest our time wisely, aligning our actions with our values and God's purpose for our lives. This intentional living helps us avoid the regret of wasted time and missed opportunities. [00:26]

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel time is slipping away? How can you intentionally invest your time in this area to align with God's purpose today?


Day 2: Eliminating the Tyranny of Hurry
Hurry is a state of frantic effort driven by feelings of inadequacy, fear, and guilt. It is the enemy of spiritual life, preventing us from experiencing the peace and joy God intends. To live a life of purpose, we must ruthlessly eliminate hurry, recognizing that it is not merely about being busy but about the state of our hearts and minds. By slowing down and focusing on what truly matters, we can cultivate a deeper connection with God and others, experiencing the fullness of life He offers. [01:22]

"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind." (Ecclesiastes 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific moment today when you felt hurried. What steps can you take to eliminate hurry in that moment and invite God's peace instead?


Day 3: Living with Intention
Forming a clear intention to live without hurry, one day at a time, allows us to focus on the present and approach our tasks with calm and purpose. This intentionality helps us align our lives with God's will, recognizing our place in His grand project. By cultivating a mental picture of our role in the world before God, we can approach each day with a sense of calm and purpose, trusting in His guidance and provision. [05:12]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one task you can approach with intention and purpose today? How can you commit this task to the Lord and trust in His guidance?


Day 4: Embracing the Gift of Rest
Eliminating unnecessary tasks and embracing rest, as exemplified by the Sabbath, reminds us that God is at work even when we are not. This practice helps us trust in God's provision and timing, recognizing that our worth is not determined by our productivity. By setting aside time for rest and reflection, we can recharge our spirits and gain a deeper understanding of God's presence in our lives. [07:55]

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.'" (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one unnecessary task you can eliminate today to make room for rest? How can you use this time to connect with God and recharge your spirit?


Day 5: Confronting the Fear of Saying No
Understanding why we struggle to say no, whether due to unclear purpose or fear of rejection, empowers us to set boundaries and prioritize what truly matters. By confronting these fears, we can live a life aligned with God's calling, focusing on His purpose for our lives rather than the expectations of others. This clarity helps us make decisions that honor God and reflect our true values. [09:26]

"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." (Matthew 5:37, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you struggled to say no. What fears were driving this struggle, and how can you confront them to set healthy boundaries today?

Quotes


"Numbering our days has to do with making them count investing them in what matters not allowing them to just fly by in default mode in ways that we look back at with emptiness or regret and I think it's probably harder in our day than it's ever been before so I have some thoughts from a very wise man." [00:00:31]

"You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life and there was another pause and I said and what else do you have because I don't have a lot of time and I want to get as much wisdom in this phone call as I can and he said no there's nothing else hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day." [00:01:12]

"Hurry is a state of frantic effort one falls into in response to inadequacy, fear, and guilt. It is not a state of effort; effort can be wonderful we're made for effort a state of frantic effort that we fall into involving inadequacy or fear or guilt we should take as our aim to live our lives entirely without hurry." [00:02:45]

"The peace and joy and strength which God intended for human life the well-being and health of mind and body is inconsistent with living in a hurry of of course occasional bouts of hurry may be reasonable in such a world as this sometimes I'm trying to cram so much into this little 10 or so minute time that I find myself hurrying in this." [00:03:17]

"The goal of avoiding hurry is not just that it makes your life more pleasant but to enable us to calmly and effectively do the things that are truly important with strength and joy so here's the tools to get hurry off your back in 2025 from a very wise man who is perhaps more productive more fruitful but less hurried than anybody that I have ever known." [00:04:20]

"Form a clear intention to live without hurry well you can actually do that right now and it's a good idea not to try to form that intention for the rest of your life as long as you should live just today this little 24-hour period I will seek to live today in an unhurried way." [00:04:56]

"Cultivate a mental picture of your place in the world before God what is God doing and where do you fit in our imaginations are very important tools that God has given us but very often we let our imaginations run us instead of Vice Versa and I start imagining oh what about this test or this assignment or this bill or this conversation." [00:05:45]

"Begin to eliminate the things that you have to do oh maybe I don't have to actually do them don't be afraid of doing nothing one of the real important reasons to do nothing and in the Bible you'll see this is commanded quite a lot the Sabbath was about doing nothing at night which in the Hebrew Reckoning was the beginning of day." [00:07:27]

"Deal honestly with why you have a hard time saying no now it feels like I have to say no is it because you are unclear about your purpose in life at one point they wanted to make Jesus a king but it was very clear nope that's not why I'm here are you really just drifting." [00:08:43]

"Are you afraid to say no because you want to please people and you just go through life needing to approve people get people's approval and that can be such an addiction is I am what other people think of me by the way how's this video going is it going pretty good would you rate it pretty high or am I afraid that others might outshine me." [00:09:32]

"Deal with the Panic of not being busy this is a habit as are most of the feelings that dominate human choices allow yourself to be in the Panic you might be feeling it right now when is this going to be over I got stuff to do allow yourself to be in the Panic feel it roll over you and don't go for the fix." [00:10:00]

"Wisdom from the wisest and most unhurried person that I have personally know about how to get urgency off your back in 2025 so that you can bear whatever it is whatever that easy yoke is that Jesus does has me back let's start today I wouldn't be in a hurry." [00:10:40]

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Transcript
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