By: Michele Laccabue

“Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.

 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,

 and my hope is in you all day long.”

 Psalm 25: 4-5 (NIV)

The Beautiful Coordinators team met for an off-campus activity a couple of months ago. We went to a cute little studio where you picked a word and created a beaded bracelet. Without much thought, I chose the word “pause.” I felt a strong sense from God that I needed to PAUSE and PRAY more throughout my days, and thought maybe a visual reminder on my wrist would be helpful.

You see, I can be a bit of an overachiever and over-scheduler. This leads to a flurry of activity to complete tasks without much breathing room. Can you relate? My daily routine includes time with Jesus early each morning. We interact through Bible reading, SOAR journaling and prayer. It is wonderful! And then…the duties of the day take over—hence, needing a reminder to PAUSE.

Pause to pray.

Pause from the “hurry” of life.

Pause to notice God’s movement.

Pause from the noise to hear God.

Pause to be led by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Last month, I paused my everyday routine for my first international mission trip. I traveled with Grace Family Church's Beautiful ministry team to Nicaragua for a week. We were 10 moms from Tampa Bay on a mission to love women and their children. It was incredible! 

This pause allowed the Holy Spirit to revive my spirit to feel like He does, to see what He sees and to experience Him fully.

Here are a few things God taught me along the way:

Pause from my normal to witness another’s normal.

Pause from my perspective to see a fresh reality.

Pause to adore God for His presence in both.

Pause to unify the hearts of women in two cultures pursuing the same goals.

Pause to see with my own eyes the Spirit of God hovering over His believers.

Pause to be vulnerable and cry.

Pause to process, articulate, and hopefully inspire.

Pause to evaluate and energize my calling.

Pause to reflect on what I will do with this experience, and how it will affect my journey and leadership opportunities in the days to come.

Since returning from Nicaragua, my awareness to PAUSE has taken up residence in my daily life. It is now a new normal. Praise God! This little beaded bracelet was so impactful that God has urged me to take it one step further and create an acronym. After much thought and prayer, He gave me this: P.A.U.S.E.

Pray Always Until (the) Spirit’s Encounter

Genuine encounters with the Holy Spirit ALL day long!  

Isn’t that what we all want, and what we all need?  

Friends, will you join me today to PAUSE, pray, experience His presence and follow His lead?