Tag: #godspresence

The Sacred Art of Savouring

Recently, I read Chris Bailey’s “How to Calm Your Mind”, and what struck me was the concept of savouring – our mind’s ability to attend to and appreciate positive experiences. He talked about chronic stress and burnout, and one of the ways of overcoming them is savouring our moments and being engaged – instead of always pursuing and achieving more. What’s the point of our achievements if we don’t savour what we have and what we have achieved?

Savouring isn’t just a productivity hack; it is deeply spiritual. The bible reminds us: “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). When we savour, we awaken to God’s presence in our everyday lives.

Savouring shifts our focus from busyness to Presence

Our current obsession with busyness has robbed us of joy. When we savour, we shift from rushing to noticing, observing, enjoying. Whether it’s the warmth of the sunlight, the aroma of a drink, the smile of a loved one, we become present – and in presence, we meet God, and His beautiful creation.

Savouring strengthens Gratitude

When we savour, we stretch moments instead of letting them slip away. Gratitude naturally follows because we savouring highlight’s God’s gifts, which we might easily miss or take for granted. Paul’s reminder to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) becomes easier when we savour the ordinary.

Savouring is a Spiritual Discipline

Far from being indulgent, savouring is a discipline. It’s choosing to slow down enough to see God’s hand at work in our daily lives. We notice and appreciate the small and meaningful things in our lives – the laughter at meal times, the friend who called or messaged or came over, the spouse who helped with chores. This practice trains our hearts to remain rooted in joy, even when life feels uncertain.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you: savour all the big and small moments in your life, and savour the presence of God.

The Mary and Martha Within Us

I am constantly juggling starting the day with God versus my long to-do lists. Some days, I remember to say ‘Good Morning, Jesus!’ and thank Him for a brand new day. But once I touch my phone, it is a slippery slop of distractions – list of things to remember and things to do.

Martha: Distracted by Duty

There is nothing wrong with what Martha was doing – after all, she was serving Jesus. But her busyness became a distraction. In today’s world, our busyness has become a measure of our productivity. We are pressured to perform, achieve and accomplish. In the process, we become too busy to carve out time to be in His presence.

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” – Luke 10:40

Mary: Anchored in Presence

Mary chose to sit down and listen to Jesus, much to Martha’s annoyance. Mary recognise that Jesus was in the room, and chose to be in His presence and listen to His Words. She chose His presence over worldly pressure.

How often do we stop and sit still – to be in God’s presence and truly listen to His words?

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching – Luke 10:39

The One Thing That’s Needed

Jesus didn’t scold Martha – He gently invited her back to what matters most. He showed her that in the midst of all our obligations and responsibilities, one thing is truly necessary – Him. God is asking us to prioritise His presence in our busy lives.

“Martha, Martha… you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:41–42 (ESV)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: to choose the portion that is most important, which is to anchor in God’s presence, and don’t let anyone or anything take it away from you.