Recently my husband and I took a week-long vacation in upper Michigan with our daughter and her family. It was a perfect time to rest from our routines and reset our personal rhythms, as it coincided with the start of fall. Being surrounded by the beauty of God's creation in an isolated cabin on a lake allowed us to slow down and just be. 

Fall is one of my favorite seasons as trees burst forth with their hidden color before shedding their leaves. It includes October, my most favorite month—although that hasn’t always been the case. When our children were young, I often grumbled because October was our most expensive month with back-to-back fees for schools and sports. Then one year, I noticed it was also the month we vividly saw God’s hand at work, meeting our increased financial need. Upon greater reflection, I realized that throughout our forty years of marriage it’s been in October when we have consistently seen evidence of God’s provision and healing power. It’s amazing. Without pausing to rest, I’m not sure I would have remembered the significance of October this year.

Pausing allows us a time to rest and reflect. It can be a time to praise God for all He has provided over the last season and pray over that which is to come. It can also be a time to remember how we have seen God move in our past and thank Him for how He will move in our future. 

In this season of fall as the colors begin to change here in Virginia, I encourage you to take a day or two (or even an hour or two if that’s all you have) to intentionally rest and reflect—taking time to pause, praise and pray. Inhale God's beauty and exhale worldly concerns. Feel your pace slowing as you quiet your mind and still your soul. Listen to the cadence of your breath as your body assumes a position of rest. Close your eyes, and allow yourself time reflect on the Lord and His goodness. As you remain in silence, experience the feeling of resetting your personal rhythm by just being. 

Your sister in Christ,
Katie