Give: Give Up The Rush
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In this Lenten teaching from Kanoi Church Podcast, Pastor Nick Ressler explores the spiritual danger of 'the rush'—a cultural addiction to speed and busyness that crowds out intimacy with God and damages relationships. Drawing from the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, he contrasts Martha’s anxious productivity with Mary’s intentional presence, emphasizing that one can be doing 'good' things for Jesus while still missing His presence. The sermon challenges listeners to recognize that hurry is not just a time-management issue but a soul-level problem rooted in distrust of God’s timing and control. Ressler calls for a radical reorientation: to give up the rush not to become lazy, but to live intentionally, trust God with pace, and choose presence over pressure. He offers practical steps—building margin, practicing presence, embracing interruptions, and calming the body and soul—to reclaim a life of peace and spiritual alignment with Christ. The message culminates in a powerful invitation to walk with Jesus in step, not ahead or behind, but in rhythm with His purpose.
Hurry is a soul problem, not just a schedule problem—it reveals a lack of trust in God’s timing.
You can be doing good things for Jesus and still miss being with Him.
Build margin in your schedule to create space for interruption, presence, and peace.
Practice being fully present in conversations by putting down your phone and listening intentionally.
Embrace interruptions—they may be divine assignments in disguise.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Lent and the Practice of Giving Up
The episode opens with a reminder of Lent as a 40-day season of reflection and spiritual discipline, where Christians traditionally give up something to focus on growing closer to God. The host explains fasting not as deprivation, but as intentional redirection of time and energy toward spiritual practices like prayer and Scripture.
The Cultural Addiction to Rush
“Most of us aren't even that busy. We're just restless. And we've gotten so used to living at a constant sprint that slowing down feels wrong, even if our souls are usually begging for it.”
The Spiritual Danger of Hurry
“You can be doing things for Jesus and still miss being with Jesus.”
Following Jesus: Purposeful, Not Hurried
“Jesus was busy, but he was never hurried. This is essential for us. As people who call ourselves Christians... busy but never hurried.”
Practical Steps to Give Up the Rush
The sermon concludes with five actionable steps: build margin in your schedule, practice presence, start your day with stillness, embrace interruptions, and slow your body to calm your soul. The final image is of a couple walking down the aisle in step—symbolizing the invitation to walk with Jesus in rhythm, not ahead or behind.
“You can be doing things for Jesus and still miss being with Jesus.”
“Jesus was busy, but he was never hurried. This is essential for us.”
“Most of us aren't even that busy. We're just restless. And we've gotten so used to living at a constant sprint that slowing down feels wrong, even if our souls are usually begging for it.”
Host
Jesus Christ
person
Nick Ressler
person
Mary and Martha
other
Kanoi Church
organization
Lent
other
Luke 10
other
Smartwatch
product
Eli
person
Carissa
person
Good Samaritan
other
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