Women of purpose, I have good news for you!
It is news that can radically change your summer…and the rest of your life (no exaggeration).
You don’t have to grind and strive endlessly to make things happen.
While hustle and grind is the celebrated way of life in the world, the cost of this lifestyle is simply too great. When you look up the definition of grind in the dictionary, it is defined as requiring much exertion and excessive hard (unyielding!) work. When you look up the definition of hustle, it is defined as making strenuous efforts to obtain especially money or business.
There’s a better way.
You are blessed with an invitation from the Creator of the Universe and the One who is the lover of your soul to transform the way you pursue the God-given purpose you are called to, personally and professionally.
The Unforced Rhythms of Grace
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
Grace is an extraordinary, sustaining, and overflowing gift out of the abundance of Christ that is available to you (if you choose to receive it). It’s His empowering presence that enables you to successfully be who you are called to be, do what you are called to do, and do what you could never do on your own. This gift of grace provides you with rest, joy, peace, divine favor, resources, alignment, and so much more.
Rhythm comes from the Greek word rhythmos which means measured flow or movement. As I’ve heard Jade Simmons say, “Rhythm unlocks and unleashes things, it galvanizes people, it creates momentum in every aspect of life.” Plus this rhythm is unforced, meaning it is not forced or imposed, but rather it is a natural flow… and since this is God’s grace we’re talking about, it’s a supernatural flow with a tempo (or pace) that is precisely what is needed for the season you’re in.
Finding Your Rhythm
In order to pursue purpose with grace, you’ll need to discover these unforced rhythms through abiding (or “keeping company”) with God. Here are a few practical ways to begin (or grow in) a lifestyle of abiding:
Give God the first of your workday.
It doesn’t have to be early in the morning. Maybe you go to the gym early in the morning or you have family-related priorities in the morning. However, spending the first 20 minutes to an hour sitting with God before engaging with work is a powerful way to shift your day. I call these “daily business meetings with God.” It’s a time to seek God’s heart and seek His thoughts concerning the things concerning you. God gives you wisdom generously when you ask. He gives you revelation on what’s holding you back and why you think the way you think. He gives strategic insight into your work. He’ll share His heart concerning you and the others in your sphere of influence. Business meetings with God are not just about talking, but about intentional listening.
Surrender Your To-Do List.
Make your plans, but yield them to God. Give Him access to shift them and redirect them. There will be times that your standard work activities will need to take a backseat to other priorities for you – the conversation you need to have with a family member or friend, the unanticipated errand you need to make to serve your spouse, the longer-than-scheduled conversation you have with a client who needs encouragement. Having a revelation that God is your Source and that everyone and everything else is a resource is key. Understanding the truth that God operates outside of time and is the redeemer of time is freeing.
Take Intentional Quiet Moments Throughout The Day.
Our brains need a break. Social media isn’t a break. Checking e-mails isn’t a break. Create space in your schedule intentionally to provide yourself with 5-15 minutes breaks that serve as quiet spaces. It increases productivity, replenishes attention, solidifies memories, and encourages creativity — most notably, it gives you opportunities to connect with God. These intentional quiet spaces keep the conversation with God going throughout your day, allow you to meditate on His goodness, release what stresses you and exchange it for His peace. It also gives you a moment to seek Him before meetings and ask Him for His agenda so you can align with His heart.
If you’re tired and worn out (physically, mentally, or emotionally), it means that you’re working primarily in your own strength versus allowing God’s strength to be made perfect in your weakness. These are three simple, yet powerful ways to embrace the gift of unforced rhythms of grace in your life. This isn’t something you strive for, it’s a gift that you realize and awaken to — the ongoing awareness of the presence of an unchanging and all-powerful God in your life.
Pursuing purpose with the unforced rhythms of grace helps you avoid making an idol out of hard work and mistaking your identity as being in your work or your achievements. There’s no need to worship work. Enjoy the journey of working with intentionality, diligence, and grace. There’s
no need to worship purpose. Pursue the Giver of purpose, and you will experience more than you ever could ask, imagine, or think.
Shae Bynes is a passionate storyteller, mentor, and strategist who equips leaders to be catalysts for transformation in the marketplace. Known as “Chief Fire Igniter”, Shae co-founded the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur movement in 2012, and her most popular book Grace Over Grind: is shifting the way people live, work, and engage the world around them. Whether she is sharing on platforms publicly or consulting privately, you can expect Shae to deliver an abundance of truth with love, grace, and contagious joy. Learn more at ShaeBynes.com.
