For most of us, there’s no shortage of commitments in our lives. If we look on the refrigerator, we can usually see some type of calendar or schedule that reminds us of our busyness. Kids’ activities, church events, deadlines, doctor appointments, school assemblies, games and everything else a family has pledged to attend.

Our schedules are exhausting. Just looking at them makes us weary.

I’m sure the apostles experienced exhaustion, too. They were forming the church. There was a world to reach for Christ and they took their assignment seriously. But I’m drawn to these verses: “With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” (Acts 2:46-47 NIV)

I sense a schedule of freedom as I read these verses. The apostles met daily in the temple courts and spent time having meals with their brothers and sisters in Christ. I don’t sense a rushed pace. They did this with “gladness.” They praised God as they met. They were able to rest, truly enjoying this daily experience. It could have become a burden, but it didn’t.

We need rest from our schedules or they will rule our lives. Take a day and close the calendar, pull your schedule off the fridge, shut off the alarms on your phone and live apart from your commitments. Practice a full day of rest.

It may cramp your style. You might have something scheduled every day of the week. For us, in some seasons, soccer tournaments crept into our Sundays. We bowed to the schedule and attended. Before we knew it, every single day was ruled by our calendar . . .  even that one day we had hoped to give to God.

I would make different choices now. My priorities have changed. As my kids used to say, “Can I have a do-over?”

When my wife and I moved to North Carolina, one of the blessings was that our calendar wasn’t packed. In fact, it was quite empty. No church home, no friends, no social or family commitments. It was a clean slate that we were careful about filling.

One of the things we decided to do was use Sunday afternoons after church to explore. We spent a couple hours driving, hiking and simply enjoying our new surroundings. It felt so refreshing to be off the clock and have no agenda. We’ll have to learn to protect that time as our commitments start to grow.

How can you clear time in your week so you’re free from your schedule? Take a rest from the craziness that invades your family and life. You’ll find that slowing down is a good habit and a healthy rhythm. Build rest into your week.

Within that rest, meet with God. Pray together as a family. Worship with the larger family of God. Talk about the Lord. Give your spouse and children time alone with him. A day without a schedule is a day you can deepen your relationship with God and your loved ones.

What a novel idea.

(From my new devotional, Your Life With God: 30 Days of Rest. Available from Amazon in Kindle and Paperback).