7 Rhythms
Making space for spiritual formation
Breathe in: Slow and Steady
Breathe out: Haste and Hurry
As I move closer to 40, I am choosing rhythms that help me stay aligned with God’s pace rather than old, familiar patterns of pushing the pace, overplanning, and feeling overwhelmed. These are not New Year’s resolutions. They are gentle formation rhythms to deepen my awareness and create room for God to shape me. For seminary, I will be taking another mentorship class that requires a 50-hour formational plan, so some of these rhythms may shift as I discern what God is calling me to focus on from late January to mid-May (Spring semester.) The semester actually ends on my 40th- how fitting!
Here are the 7 rhythms I will prayerfully practice over the next month:
7 written gratitudes a week (I have a Google Doc I add to daily and have been doing this since August!)
6 days of devotional time or journaling (I am currently doing the She Reads Truth Advent daily reading.)
5 people I pray for specifically and intentionally
4 minutes Holy Spirit listening practice at least four times a week (I adapted my own practice based on 4 Minutes to Hear God’s Voice by Me Rah Koh.)
3 workouts to care for my body (I am in a walking rhythm but out of workout rhythm and ready to ease back in.)
2 beach walks to purposefully pause (It is cold in NC right now; however, I am praying the sunshine prevails some days. It looks like Saturday may be one of them.)
1 Substack post each week to reflect and encourage (I will need to write two most weeks to meet my 40 before 40 goal - 22 weeks to go.)
Prayerfully, these rhythms will help me practice contentment with slowness one week at a time. They are minimums. Some weeks, I plan to engage with certain practices more.
Courage Contemplation:
Which rhythm would help you slow down and hear God more clearly in this season?
Thanks for reading! This is Volume 3 of 40 in the 40 Before 40 series.
Please note: Paid subscribers will receive a more intimate peek into certain aspects of my life that I have yet to share publicly. I plan to share approximately 1/3 of the posts publicly and 2/3 for paid subscribers only.
Wishing you peace with every pause,
Antoinetta