DNDW 6: SLOWING DOWN
We’re all feeling overwhelmed, distracted, and somehow still disconnected despite being “connected” 24/7. Our generation might just be the loneliest and most frazzled bunch to date!
Christine chats with author Laura L. Smith about how pressing pause, practicing gratitude, and noticing beauty can transform our relationship with God, ourselves, and others. They discuss how the Bible and neuroscience agree (how cool is that?): our hurried, distracted living is robbing us of the deep connections we were created for.
Join us for some real talk and practical wisdom on “growing content with growing slow and slowing down,” and find encouragement in discovering moments of awe and genuine connection in your everyday chaos. Your overwhelmed soul will thank you for it!
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Laura L. Smith
is a sought-after speaker and best-selling author of fourteen books, including Restore My Soul, Holy Care for the Whole Self, and her new title, The Urgency of Slowing Down. She tears down lies, so we can live in Christ’s truth. Laura lives in the picturesque college town of Oxford, Ohio, with her professor husband and the youngest of their four big kids. There you’ll find her running the wooded trails, teaching local Bible study, or shopping at the local farmers’ market. She loves her family, mochas, the sound of church bells, a good book, and France, but most of all, she loves Jesus.
Season 3 | Draw Near Dwell Well | Topics & Guests
- DNDW1: Series Intro | Christine
- DNDW2: The Theology of Invitation | Christine
- DNDW3: Discerning Shifts | Emily P. Freeman
- DNDW4: Practicing Simplicity | Jan Johnson
- DNDW5: Sabbath Rest | Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
- DNDW6: Slowing Down | Laura L. Smith
- DNDW7: Stillness, Therapy & Prayer | Crystal Logan
- DNDW8: Relational Health | Bob Hamp
- DNDW9: Emotional Health | Christy Boulware
- DNDW10: Silence & Solitude | Andrew Ranucci
NOTE: Featuring a guest, resource, or organization on The Holy Shift does not necessarily constitute a blanket endorsement of their entire body of work.
Draw Near Dwell Well Resources
The Holy Shift Resources
We’ve highlighted some key points from this episode below. Feel free to share these on your blogs/feeds with proper attribution to the writer/speaker/podcast. Or stay tuned—we will be posting several of these verses and quotes, along with clips from this episode, on our IG page and you can save/share from there.
Scripture
PSALM 46
1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 7The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 10He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
EXODUS 14
13Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
PSALM 131
1My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
COLOSSIANS 2
6And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Quotes
- Jesus was unworried and unhurried. He was not wringing his hands over his pace. He was just present with his people because love has its speed. -Christine Crawford
- I firmly believe that if comparison is the thief of joy, gratitude is the giver of joy. -Laura L. Smith
- God’s greatest provision is His presence, and we must take the time to enjoy it. We must grow content with slowing down and sitting still. -Christine Crawford
- The truth is, God does not have a sticker chart. He is not like keeping track. He is not grading us or scoring us. We’re not gonna get a promotion based on how well we’re doing the Christian things. He has created all these practices to give us more abundance, more grace, and more peace. -Laura L. Smith
- We are called to and commanded to steward our lives and our stories. And that means self-care and some soul care are required. This isn’t selfishness. This is obedience to God. -Christine Crawford
Related Resources & Inspiration
BLOG
RESOURCE FROM SOUL CARE
Soul Care invites you into a quiet moment of connection with God through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Latin for “divine reading”), which is a prayerful way of engaging with Scripture, not to study or analyze it, but to let it speak to your heart. Whether your week feels rushed or restful, this is a moment to be still and let God speak.
EXCERPT FROM THE URGENCY OF SLOWING DOWN BY LAURA L. SMITH
God wants goodness for you and me. But someone else’s pace is not necessarily my best pace or yours. As long as you’re tracking with God and his plans for you, you are right on time.
WISDOM FROM PETE SCAZZERO | EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY DISCIPLESHIP
We live in a world addicted to speed. Everything around us screams, “Move faster. Produce more. Achieve now!” And if we’re honest, that same pressure seeps into our ministries and leadership.
MUSIC
DRAW NEAR DWELL WELL SEASON PLAYLIST
Spanning the spectrum from contemporary worship and traditional hymns to spiritually-secular and vibey instrumental, here’s a cross-genre collection to help calm anxiety and inspire connection with God.💛
Other Resources
DWELL BIBLE & PRAYER APP
Longing for God’s Word in your life? Discover the Power of Listening to the Bible.
Hallow Prayer & Meditation APP
Discover new ways to grow closer to God alongside millions of other Christians worldwide.
BIBLEHUB: SEARCH, READ, AND STUDY
Online Bible Study Suite. Topical, Greek, and Hebrew study tools. Concordances, commentaries, sermons, and devotionals.
ABIDE CHRISTIAN MEDITATION APP
Christian Meditation Made Easy
Sleep better and stress less.
