In today's gathering, we explored the profound story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42, reflecting on the tension between action and presence. As we navigate our lives, we often find ourselves in Martha's shoes, overwhelmed by responsibilities and cultural expectations. Martha's frustration with Mary, who chose to sit at Jesus' feet, highlights a common struggle: the balance between doing and being. Jesus' response to Martha, emphasizing the importance of presence over productivity, invites us to reconsider our priorities.

In our fast-paced world, we are constantly distracted, often missing the opportunity to connect deeply with God and others. The story of Mary and Martha serves as a reminder that while our actions are important, they should stem from a place of spiritual connection and peace. Jesus doesn't dismiss Martha's work but points out that Mary's choice to prioritize His presence is the better path. This narrative challenges us to examine our own lives and the distractions that keep us from truly experiencing God's presence.

We also discussed the concept of "hurry" as a barrier to spiritual growth. In our culture, busyness is often equated with importance, yet it can lead to a superficial faith. Dallas Willard's advice to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" from our lives encourages us to slow down and be intentional about our spiritual journey. By doing so, we create space for genuine connection with God and others, allowing love to flourish.

To combat hurry, we must be intentional about where we place our attention, purposeful about our pace, and learn to embrace our limits. These practices help us align our lives with God's rhythm, enabling us to be present and attentive to His voice. As we strive to be "unhurried friends," we reflect God's love in tangible ways, offering hospitality, generosity, and attention to those around us.

**Key Takeaways:**

- **Prioritizing Presence Over Productivity:** The story of Mary and Martha teaches us that while our actions are important, they should be rooted in a deep connection with God. Jesus emphasizes that Mary's choice to sit at His feet is the better path, reminding us to prioritize His presence over our busyness. [29:43]

- **The Danger of Hurry:** In our fast-paced world, hurry can become a barrier to spiritual growth. Dallas Willard's advice to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" challenges us to slow down and be intentional about our spiritual journey, creating space for genuine connection with God and others. [37:05]

- **Intentional Attention:** Our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions, but we have the power to decide where we focus. By being intentional about our attention, we can ensure that we are filling our minds and hearts with things that draw us closer to God. [42:05]

- **Embracing Our Limits:** Recognizing and embracing our limits is essential for living an unhurried life. Practices like Sabbath rest remind us that we are valued not for what we do, but for who we are, allowing us to create margin for what matters most. [49:30]

- **Being an Unhurried Friend:** As followers of Jesus, we are called to be "unhurried friends," offering our time and attention to others. By doing so, we reflect God's love in tangible ways, demonstrating a better way of living in a world that desperately needs it. [46:55]

**Youtube Chapters:**

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to the Series
- [04:30] - The Story of Mary and Martha
- [08:15] - Cultural Context of Hospitality
- [12:00] - Martha's Frustration
- [15:45] - Jesus' Response to Martha
- [19:30] - The Importance of Presence
- [23:00] - The Danger of Hurry
- [27:00] - Intentional Attention
- [30:45] - Embracing Our Limits
- [34:00] - Being an Unhurried Friend
- [38:15] - Practical Steps to Eliminate Hurry
- [42:30] - The Gift of Sabbath Rest
- [46:00] - Conclusion and Prayer

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

**Bible Reading:**
- Luke 10:38-42

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**Observation Questions:**

1. What were the different responses of Mary and Martha when Jesus visited their home? How did each sister choose to spend her time? [24:26]

2. How did Jesus respond to Martha's request for Mary to help her? What does this reveal about Jesus' priorities? [26:54]

3. What cultural expectations might have influenced Martha's actions, and how did Mary challenge these norms? [26:54]

4. How does the sermon describe the concept of "hurry" and its impact on spiritual growth? [37:05]

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**Interpretation Questions:**

1. Why might Jesus have considered Mary's choice to sit at His feet as the "better" option? How does this relate to the balance between action and presence? [29:43]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that "hurry" can be a barrier to spiritual growth? How does this concept relate to the story of Mary and Martha? [37:05]

3. How does the sermon interpret the significance of Jesus using Martha's name twice? What does this indicate about His relationship with her? [26:54]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of being intentional with our attention and pace? How does this relate to the story of Mary and Martha? [42:05]

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**Application Questions:**

1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there areas where you identify more with Martha, feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities? How can you create space to prioritize presence over productivity? [29:43]

2. Consider the concept of "hurry" as discussed in the sermon. What are some practical steps you can take to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" from your life? [37:05]

3. Identify a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction and be more present with God? [34:50]

4. How can you be an "unhurried friend" to someone in your life this week? What specific actions can you take to offer your time and attention to others? [46:55]

5. Reflect on the idea of embracing your limits. How can you incorporate practices like Sabbath rest to create margin in your life for what matters most? [49:30]

6. Think about a recent situation where you felt rushed or overwhelmed. How might approaching it with a mindset of presence and connection have changed the outcome? [32:02]

7. How can you intentionally focus your attention on things that draw you closer to God? What changes can you make in your daily routine to ensure your attention is aligned with your spiritual goals? [42:05]

Day 1: Prioritizing Presence Over Productivity
In the story of Mary and Martha, we see a profound lesson about the importance of prioritizing presence over productivity. Martha was busy with the tasks of hospitality, overwhelmed by the responsibilities and expectations placed upon her. In contrast, Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, focusing on His presence rather than the tasks at hand. Jesus gently reminded Martha that Mary's choice was the better one, emphasizing that our actions should stem from a place of spiritual connection and peace. In our fast-paced world, we often find ourselves caught up in the busyness of life, missing the opportunity to connect deeply with God and others. This narrative invites us to reconsider our priorities and to ensure that our actions are rooted in a deep connection with God. [29:43]

Luke 12:29-31 (ESV): "And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."

Reflection: What is one task or responsibility you can set aside today to spend intentional time in God's presence, seeking His kingdom first?


Day 2: The Danger of Hurry
Hurry is a pervasive issue in our culture, often equated with importance and success. However, it can become a significant barrier to spiritual growth, leading to a superficial faith. Dallas Willard's advice to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry" challenges us to slow down and be intentional about our spiritual journey. By creating space for genuine connection with God and others, we allow love to flourish. In a world that values busyness, we are called to be countercultural, prioritizing our spiritual well-being over the demands of a hurried life. This requires intentionality and a commitment to slowing down, allowing us to experience the fullness of God's presence. [37:05]

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

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where hurry is prevalent. What practical step can you take today to slow down and create space for God's presence?


Day 3: Intentional Attention
Our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions, often leading us away from what truly matters. We have the power to decide where we focus, and by being intentional about our attention, we can ensure that we are filling our minds and hearts with things that draw us closer to God. This requires a conscious effort to eliminate distractions and to focus on what is truly important. By doing so, we align our lives with God's rhythm, enabling us to be present and attentive to His voice. This intentionality allows us to experience a deeper connection with God and to reflect His love in our interactions with others. [42:05]

Colossians 3:2 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What is one distraction you can eliminate today to focus your attention on God and His purposes for your life?


Day 4: Embracing Our Limits
Recognizing and embracing our limits is essential for living an unhurried life. In a culture that often values productivity over rest, it can be challenging to accept our limitations. However, practices like Sabbath rest remind us that we are valued not for what we do, but for who we are. By embracing our limits, we create margin for what matters most, allowing us to experience the fullness of God's presence and to reflect His love in our interactions with others. This requires a shift in perspective, recognizing that our worth is not determined by our productivity, but by our identity in Christ. [49:30]

Psalm 127:2 (ESV): "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."

Reflection: How can you intentionally embrace your limits today, creating space for rest and connection with God?


Day 5: Being an Unhurried Friend
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be "unhurried friends," offering our time and attention to others. In a world that is often focused on self-interest and busyness, we have the opportunity to reflect God's love in tangible ways. By being present and attentive to those around us, we demonstrate a better way of living, one that prioritizes relationships and connection over productivity. This requires a commitment to being intentional with our time and to offering hospitality, generosity, and attention to those in our lives. By doing so, we reflect God's love and create space for genuine connection and community. [46:55]

Proverbs 17:17 (ESV): "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

Reflection: Who is one person you can be an "unhurried friend" to today, offering your time and attention to reflect God's love in their life?

"Our goal as a church is to give hope to everyone, to help everyone find hope. And if you came in the door today, if you joined online today, because you're hoping for something from God, we trust that he will meet you right where you need to be met today." [00:21:38] (16 seconds) Edit Clip


"And imagine if the guest was Jesus. The stakes are high. And this little drop-in creates some tension between Martha and Mary. One goes into work mode, the other sits with Jesus. And as we sit in this tension, we see that Jesus doesn't condemn work, but he prioritizes presence." [00:23:25] (22 seconds) Edit Clip


"Now, sometimes when we talk about this story, we can view Martha's way as bad and Mary's way as good, but that's not exactly what Jesus is saying. He's saying Mary's way is better. She's put her priorities in the right order because there are lots of times when we are called to act to demonstrate God's love in the world in tangible ways." [00:30:26] (22 seconds) Edit Clip


"When our minds are full of good teaching and our hearts are inspired by prayer and connection with God, then our actions will reflect the right heart and spirit. The way we enter into our doing matters. We need to start with connection." [00:31:20] (20 seconds) Edit Clip


"Why do we run around out of breath, not listening or making time to hear from God, all the while offering quick prayers, telling God how we should show up in our lives? Maybe that's just me. But here's an example. As you know, Lent begins with the observance of Ash Wednesday." [00:32:15] (23 seconds) Edit Clip


"John Ortberg, thinking about these topics, reminds us that the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It's that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them. Just checking boxes, doing the minimum." [00:36:11] (28 seconds) Edit Clip


"Writer and philosopher, you may have heard this. This is pretty famous from him. Dallas Willard was asked about the most important barrier to living a vibrant life with God. And after a long pause, he said this. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life in our day." [00:36:57] (23 seconds) Edit Clip


"Jesus often had much to do, but he never did it in a way that severed the life-giving connection between him and his father. He never did it in a way that interfered with his ability to give love when love was called for. He observed a regular practice of withdrawing from activity for the sake of solitude and prayer. Jesus was often busy, but never hurried." [00:37:49] (24 seconds) Edit Clip


"Love has its speed. It's a spiritual speed. It's a different kind of speed from the technological speed to which we're accustomed. It goes on in the depth of our life, whether we notice it or not, at three miles per hour. It's the speed we walk, and therefore the speed, the love of God walks in us." [00:43:19] (23 seconds) Edit Clip


"One of the fundamental truths about our human nature is that we have limits. We are limited by time and energy and life circumstances and emotional bandwidth and other things beyond our control. Now, I know not everybody is the same, but we all have limits. And yet, a lot of times we act like we don't. We try to live like we don't." [00:47:20] (20 seconds) Edit Clip


"Jesus used another metaphor for his connection and his presence with us. He talked about being a vine. He said I am the vine and you are the branches if you remain or abide in me and I in you you will bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing to have this kind of relationship and connection with God would cost Jesus a lot but he was willing to pay the price so that we would have his very presence within us." [00:50:37] (35 seconds) Edit Clip

Well, hi, everyone. Great to be here with you. My name is Scott. I'm one of the pastors here, and it's my privilege to bring you the message today. So glad to be here with you. A special warm welcome to all the folks that are joining us online or at our campuses: San Mateo, friends in Mountain View, and Saratoga. So glad that you're with us today.

Our goal as a church is to give hope to everyone, to help everyone find hope. If you came in the door today or joined online because you're hoping for something from God, we trust that He will meet you right where you need to be met today.

We're in a series called "The Cost of Connections," and we're looking at stories from the Gospels that show us how much God wants to be connected to us and what He's willing to do to make that happen. We've looked at some really powerful stories from the Gospels over the past few weeks, and if you missed any of them, I'd encourage you to go back and watch those messages. If you watched last week's bonus, you're going to hear Phil sing, so that was pretty cool. It's not happening today, so don't get your hopes up, but I enjoyed that last week.

Well, we're also in this part of the church calendar, a season of life in the church called Lent. This is when we reflect on those barriers to our connection to God, which turns out to be predominantly our own hearts.

As we enter into this question of connectedness today, I wonder how connected you feel to God. I wonder if you feel like He's close by, if you can sit in His presence.

Today's story is about two sisters and how they respond to Jesus coming over to their house. I know for some people, having guests drop in is a great delight, and you enjoy that. It brings lots of fun and energy to your home. I know for others, just the very idea of this brings stress and obligation. Some of you are getting a little sweaty just thinking about people randomly dropping in at your home.

Imagine if the guest was Jesus. The stakes are high, and this little drop-in creates some tension between Martha and Mary. One goes into work mode, the other sits with Jesus. As we sit in this tension, we see that Jesus doesn't condemn work, but He prioritizes presence.

We're going to jump into it, but let me pray for us today.

Lord, open our hearts so that we are tuned to Your voice above all the noise in our life. May You help us discern the best thing and respond to Your leading in our life. And may my words and our hearts be acceptable to You today. Amen.

All right, here's the story from Luke 10:38-42.

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me."

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered. "You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her."

Now, a little background on this story: Jesus had a deep relationship with Mary and Martha. He had healed their brother Lazarus quite dramatically and had probably spent a lot of time in their home on different occasions. He would have been very comfortable there.

But in that time, there were some basic cultural realities, and hospitality was a core expectation when anyone came to your home. It communicated respect and care for your guests and was deeply important. Part of it was the harsh reality of the desert climate. You needed to care for others because you would likely need that kind of care sometime in the future yourself.

For the Hebrew people, the Scriptures call out this need for hospitality as a way to respect and honor guests. It would always be something where you would go above and beyond. So we have Martha full steam ahead, fulfilling this cultural mandate with the added gusto that this is her friend and a rabbi, and not just any rabbi—it's Jesus. Above and beyond is on her mind.

And since Martha is a lawyer, guess what? She gets right to work. But then, as Martha's deep in her preparations, she notices something: her sister Mary is not helping her. In fact, not only is she not helping her, she's sitting at the feet of Jesus, likely with other disciples, and acting like she's one of them.

Then something happens in Martha's heart. If you've ever been in a situation like this where you are the responsible one and wind up doing all the work, you can relate to this, right? Resentment happens. Frustration builds. Anger finally pushes Martha to take action.

"Jesus, can I have a word with you?"

"Of course, Martha. God bless you. Thank you."

"Would you kindly tell my sister that she needs to mind her obligations to help me serve our guests and stop acting like her place is with the disciples?"

Now, at this point, Jesus looks at Martha and sees right through her question. "Martha, you're upset and distracted. You're not thinking straight. Let me help you see this differently."

Now, certainly Martha's frustrated about doing all the work by herself, but this is about more than chores. Martha doesn't need more help peeling potatoes. Author Ken Bailey suggests that in Middle Eastern culture, Martha was likely upset that her little sister had joined the men as a disciple. She might have thought, "This is disgraceful. What will people say? Who's going to marry her?"

Yet, I wonder deep down, did Martha long to be where Mary was, to sit at Jesus' feet, drinking in His words? But no, she's the responsible one. Expectations must be met. Mary, however, wasn't afraid to go against the culture. She would pay any cost to be with Jesus.

We see this in a later Gospel account where Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, again choosing devotion over public opinion and sacrificing what was costly, willing to be excessive in her faithfulness.

Then we see Jesus respond to Martha, and we see His tenderness and care for her. He starts, "Martha, Martha." In the Bible, when a name is used twice, especially by God, it signifies intimacy and an emphasis or a close personal bond. We see this when God calls Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, and others.

Jesus responds with deep compassion and understanding despite the fact that she came at Him not really asking but telling the Lord of the universe what He should do, which is not usually recommended. But it's a great comfort to me because there are so many times I come at God like I've got it all figured out.

In condescending prayer, I proceed to lay it out for Him. "Hey, Jesus, not sure what You're up to there, but I got some ideas of how You can do it better." Anyone pray that prayer?

And Jesus just says, "Scott, Scott." I'm so grateful that the Lord is gracious and slow to anger.

But as He looks into Martha's eyes, He says, "I understand your concerns, Martha. I know your heart and your fears and what's distracting you, but one thing is needed here, and what's missing isn't one more plate of food. It's for you to understand that I am providing for you both and that your sister has chosen what is good, and I will not allow you to take it from her. Her passion to listen and learn from Me is more important to Me than a good meal."

Now, sometimes when we talk about this story, we can view Martha's way as bad and Mary's way as good, but that's not exactly what Jesus is saying. He's saying Mary's way is better. She's put her priorities in the right order because there are lots of times when we are called to act to demonstrate God's love in the world in tangible ways.

Hospitality is a big part of the way God's love gets expressed. An example of this is the preceding passage, the parable of the Good Samaritan, where pious religious leaders pass by, ignoring a man in desperate need. But then the hero of the story stops, rolls up his sleeves, and renders very practical help. He is the good neighbor in the story, and the message is clear: doing things that need to be done is holy and important work.

But there is an order to things. Jesus isn't condemning work but prioritizing presence. When our minds are full of good teaching and our hearts are inspired by prayer and connection with God, then our actions will reflect the right heart and spirit. The way we enter into our doing matters. We need to start with connection.

Example: think about how frustrating it is when your Wi-Fi keeps dropping during an important Zoom call. Anyone have that happen? No matter how hard you try to work, if you're not connected, everything lags and fails.

If we don't stay spiritually connected like Mary did at Jesus' feet, our work, like Martha's, becomes frantic and inefficient. Before we produce, we need to stay connected to His presence. That makes sense, right? Are you with me?

So why is it so hard? Why do we run around out of breath, not listening or making time to hear from God, all the while offering quick prayers, telling God how we should show up in our lives? Maybe that's just me.

But here's an example. As you know, Lent begins with the observance of Ash Wednesday. An Ash Wednesday service typically involves someone rubbing ashes on your forehead to remind you that you were created from the dust of the earth and that as mortal human beings, someday we will all return to that dust.

Now, this isn't meant to be morbid. It's just a reminder that we are dependent creatures and everything we have is a gift from God, which is a good thing to reflect on, friends.

So a few weeks ago on Ash Wednesday, I was working in my office and decided to go over to a local church to get my ashes. Now, along with the ashes, they had stations where you could pray and be quiet and meditate on Scripture. It was quite beautiful.

But by then it was late afternoon, and I needed to get to another meeting that I was leading, and the traffic was starting to build. So I rushed up to the front where one of the leaders came up and invited me to take some time and pray at the stations.

But I said, "I don't have time for that. I just need the ashes. Just give me the ashes. I got stuff to do."

So they graciously administered the ashes, and I was on my way. As I sat in my car heading to my study, I thought, "What am I doing?"

The whole point of the ashes is to reflect and think about who I am and who God is and to sit at His feet, to feel the weight of my sin, to be filled with gratitude for God's love and provision. But I was too busy to actually connect my heart with God's.

For me, the ashes just became another empty ritual. And I'm someone who regularly counsels others to take time to spend with God. Lord, have mercy.

Don't you feel a little better about yourself? My gift to you.

Jesus says, "Scott, Scott, you are worried and distracted by many things, but only one thing is needed."

I wonder what's driving your distraction today. What's keeping you running?

Because here's the reality: we are some of the most distracted people on the planet, and it's taking a toll on our connection with both God and with other people. We all know loneliness is a major problem.

We also wonder if God is present in our lives because we never have time to listen to Him. Now, for me, my phone is a major problem. It beeps, it vibrates as messages constantly come up reminding me of what I haven't done or who I need to talk to or the latest headline.

On top of that, I can turn on the television while I'm scrolling social media to keep up with people I haven't seen in 20 years. And if that doesn't work, there's always solitaire. My phone will find a way.

You know, we can't stand in lines. We can't sit still. We're always reaching for the thing that will occupy our brains just for a few seconds. And our culture rewards this, right? Rewards those who are constantly busy.

We never greet someone, and when they ask how we're doing, we say, "Hey, I'm great. I have loads of time. I actually spend luxurious hours focused on people and things that I love." Maybe you say that. What I hear is, "Man, I'm busy. Got a lot going on." I say it.

John Ortberg, thinking about these topics, reminds us that the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It's that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them, just checking boxes, doing the minimum.

So what do we do? What do we do? I still have a phone. We all have phones. How do we do?

Writer and philosopher, you may have heard this—this is pretty famous from him—Dallas Willard was asked about the most important barrier to living a vibrant life with God. After a long pause, he said this: "You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life in our day."

And Mary, when she chose to sit with Jesus, was saying no to hurry, and it was the right choice.

Now, at this point, you might be thinking, "Scott, that's great, but I don't have time to sit in a cave and contemplate my life all day long. This sounds good, but not very practical."

And I'd say, I know. I know we all have lots of things to get done. We do. And again, it's good to be productive. But how are we showing up?

Because eliminating hurry is really about pace and priority. John Ortberg, again, reminds us that ruthlessly eliminating hurry from our lives does not mean that we will never be busy. Jesus often had much to do, but He never did it in a way that severed the life-giving connection between Him and His Father.

He never did it in a way that interfered with His ability to give love when love was called for. He observed a regular practice of withdrawing from activity for the sake of solitude and prayer. Jesus was often busy, but never hurried.

Hurry is not just a disordered schedule; it's a disordered heart. Somehow, Jesus was able to do His work with the right perspective so that He could be present to the things that mattered. If we are disciples of Jesus, we need to have our schedules and hearts properly ordered, and when we do, it demonstrates God's love and care for the world.

Around our church, we talk about being an unhurried friend. If you haven't heard that, you will, I promise you. It means that we come alongside people in a way that honors who they are and helps them feel seen, heard, and loved simply by placing our attention on them and giving them time because that's what Jesus would do.

He commanded His disciples before He went to the cross. He told them, "Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. For everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another."

When the Apostle Paul describes love in that beautiful chapter, 1 Corinthians chapter 13—you know the one we always read at weddings—the first line is, "Love is patient."

Here's what I've learned, friends: hurry and love don't mix. I can look back on my worst moments as a husband, a father, a pastor, even just as a person, and I see a common thread: I was in a rush. I was running late or overwhelmed by an unrealistic to-do list or trying to squeeze too much into my day.

In those moments, I wasn't patient. I wasn't present. Love requires time, and hurry steals it. But when I slow down and create space to truly see and be with people, that's when love has room to grow.

So I want to offer three things to help us deal with hurry and stay present to God. But there's a cost. You need to decide whether or not you want to live a life with less hurry.

Because here's the interesting thing: some of us like our hurried lives. It makes us feel important and useful. We get affirmed and rewarded for cramming our lives to the brink, and maybe if we're honest, we like that. It distracts us from things we really don't want to consider.

When we slow down enough to sit before God, it can be uncomfortable, maybe even painful. We can't hide anymore. We have to look God in the eye and deal with our real selves.

Yeah, the whole thing—there's freedom on the other side. I want you to know that, but it can be harder than you guess, and it's easy to give up. So I want you to know you've got to kind of set your heart and say, "I want this other life."

But if you're ready to live differently, here are three ways—three just things you can do to deal with hurry.

The first one is: be intentional about your attention. There is a battle happening every day for your attention. It is the currency of the internet. One of the biggest powers you and I have is the ability to decide where we put our attention.

Even though it's the most valuable thing we have, our devices and the endless stream of content online are constantly trying to pull it away. Every notification, scroll, and algorithm is designed to keep us engaged, but not in the things that matter most.

Over time, this distraction erodes our ability to be present with God, with others, and even our own thoughts. What you give your attention to will determine the person you become.

So what's getting your attention? What's filling your thoughts? The Apostle Paul gives some advice in his letter to the Philippians. He says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Focus on those things. What kinds of media and books and images are you consuming every day? How much scrolling are you doing? How do you feel when you're done? Are you feeding your mind with Scripture, your heart with encouraging stories, your ears with worship?

Because as we've said before, you don't just drift into it. If you're not intentional, your attention will get hijacked, and you'll find yourself concerned and worried about many things.

Number two: be purposeful about your pace. You may have heard this quote from Kosuke Koyama: "Love has its speed. It's a spiritual speed. It's a different kind of speed from the technological speed to which we're accustomed. It goes on in the depth of our life, whether we notice it or not, at three miles per hour. It's the speed we walk, and therefore the speed the love of God walks in us."

Now, we value speed in our culture, but some things can't be done well going 100 miles per hour. So one of the most helpful ways to deal with hurry in our lives is slowing. This is intentionally putting ourselves in places where we need to practice patience and surrender.

John Mark Comer explains it like this: "If we can slow down the pace at which we think and the pace at which we move our bodies through the world, maybe, maybe we can slow down our souls to a pace at which they can taste and see that the Lord is good and that life in this world is good too."

There's a connection between the speed of our lives and the condition of our souls. Moving our bodies at three miles an hour helps our mind and heart to be present to the current moment.

So we need to practice slowing. With that in mind, here are some purposeful practices—just a few ideas. Lots of ways to do this, but here's a few:

The first one: drive the speed limit. Yeah, the actual speed limit. I know, these aren't easy.

And get in the slow lane. There you go. Get in the slow lane. Don't drive the speed limit in the fast lane, by the way. That's going to drive everybody else crazy. Go in the slow lane for your entire drive, even if you're behind one of those trucks.

Show up 10 minutes early for an appointment and don't pull out your phone. Just sit there. Notice things. Pray for people who you're going to meet with.

Here's one: come to a full stop at a stop sign. How about that? Let's do it. Yeah, I'm sure you all do that. I just threw that in there for fun.

Get in the longest line at the checkout line in the grocery store, right? And no self-checkout. Sorry, no, self-checkout doesn't count. Pray for the people in front of you. Walk slower. Pay attention to your pace. Just notice things.

We're all rushing, rushing, rushing. And there's no single task as opposed to multitasking. A little more on this one: when we try to do multiple things at once, our attention is divided, and our presence suffers.

Ever been trying to have a conversation while somebody's on their phone? Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explains this. He says, "The brain is not actually capable of multitasking. What we call multitasking is really just switching rapidly between tasks. And every time we do, there's a cognitive cost."

But when we focus on one thing at a time—whether it's a project, a conversation, or time with God—we bring our full attention, and that changes the experience. We do better work, we love people better, and we hear God more clearly.

So we need to retrain our minds and hearts so that our souls will catch up.

Number three: learn to love your limits. One of the fundamental truths about our human nature is that we have limits. We are limited by time and energy and life circumstances and emotional bandwidth and other things beyond our control.

Now, I know not everybody is the same, but we all have limits. And yet, a lot of times we act like we don't. We try to live like we don't, like we can push through everything, like the rules don't apply to us.

But the clock works the same for everyone, I assure you. There are only so many things we can accomplish in a day, in a year, in a lifetime.

If we're going to be unhurried, we're going to need to live within our limits. And even more than that, if I'm going to be an unhurried friend that has space and time to show up for others, I'm going to need some margin—a little space ahead of my limits so that I have room for God to work in my life.

How do I build that in? Well, the best practice for this is Sabbath rest. God created humanity with this limit—the need to rest, the need to sleep.

When we practice the Sabbath, we are saying to God, "I'm handing all of it over. All the things that I think I need to do, I'm putting it all in Your care."

And I'm recognizing that I have this need to rest and that I must honor the need by slowing down and making space for my connection with You, my God.

Theologian Marva Dawn says it like this: "A great benefit of Sabbath keeping is that we learn to let God take care of us, not by becoming passive and lazy, but in the freedom of giving up our feeble attempts to be God in our own lives. When we cease striving, we discover that we are valued not for what we do, but for who we are."

This practice spills over into the other six days, reorienting our identity and reshaping our work.

But it's hard to rest sometimes. What if we fall behind? What if we lose out? We want to. We want to.

Thirty-seven percent of adults take fewer than seven days of vacation per year. We don't like to rest, but God designed us with limits not as a burden but as a gift.

When we ignore those limits, we run on empty, constantly striving, always hustling until exhaustion becomes our normal. But if we embrace our limits, we create margin in our schedules, in our finances, in our souls. We make space for what matters most.

Like we said, Jesus didn't live at a frenetic pace; He moved with purpose, never in a hurry. What if we trusted that God can do more with our surrendered rest than we can do with our relentless striving?

Jesus used another metaphor for His connection and His presence with us. He talked about being a vine. He said, "I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you remain or abide in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing."

To have this kind of relationship and connection with God would cost Jesus a lot, but He was willing to pay the price so that we would have His very presence within us.

When we abide, when we sit in that presence, Jesus the vine enables us to bear fruit, and then we can go into the world and do all the important work that God has called us to do through His power and His strength.

We can be filled with His peace and be a non-anxious presence in this world that so desperately needs that.

I have a friend named Paul. We've known each other for a long time, and one of the things I love most about Paul is that he makes time for me. Whenever we get together, he asks about my life and my kids and how I'm doing with Jesus and what's making me feel alive right now.

He doesn't judge; he just asks good questions. After time with him, I feel lighter and encouraged and connected.

Now, Paul has two kids and a full life. His job requires him to be on call. He works hard; he has his own concerns and worries. But he is grounded in his faith, loves the Scriptures, has a rich prayer life, and he never seems hurried.

Paul is my unhurried friend. He makes time, he pays attention, and it's changed my life.

I wonder, as you get ready to leave today, what's one way you can eliminate the hurry in your life and sit at Jesus' feet? What's one way you can slow down and be an unhurried friend to someone who needs it today?

Because imagine if we all lived that way. Imagine if that's kind of the way we were in the world. What if we were known as a church full of unhurried friends?

"Menlo Church, man, they have time for me." Because the world needs grounded people who will demonstrate a better way—people who will make the love of God tangible through their hospitality, generosity, and attention.

What do you think? Can we be one of them today? Can we be one of them today?

Let me pray for us.

Lord, we thank You for Your presence with us. And we ask You to help us remember the cost—the cost that You willingly bore so that we would have that connection.

Forgive us, Lord, when our hurry keeps us away from You and from becoming the people that You call us to be. Help us to choose the better way and help us to put our attention on the things that matter.

Help us to move at a pace that honors our limits and enables us to love the people that are around us. And most of all, God, thanks for the gift of Your presence with us every day, every hour, every minute.

May we always remember what it costs You and never take it for granted. We love You, Lord, and we pray this in Your precious name. Amen.