Daily Bible reading: Esther 7-8, Obadiah 1, Hebrews 3-4
My favorite role on this earth that God has given me is being a mommy. I stay at home with my kids not because I have to, but because I want to. I love spending time with them and being there for each milestone. Although I delight in this role, it is very demanding! My kids are high energy and taking care of them is not an easy responsibility. Yesterday I decided to leave the kids with Daddy so I could go shopping with a friend. (Yes, shopping is relaxing to me. I know I am strange). I realize that if I don’t take time out to rest and step away from that role, I start to lose my ability to be effective in that role. I lose patience, gentleness and I get weary. Yet if I have even a small break, I am renewed. I start to miss them and can’t wait to get back to play with them again.
Hebrews 4 talks about the importance of entering His rest. Hebrews 4:9-11 " There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience."
It is interesting that the scripture notes that His rest is vital lest we don’t fall! I will never forget when John Bevere came and spoke at one of our conferences a few years back. It was right around the time when a great man of God had fallen into sin. John mentioned that there was one thing he noticed about great men that fall, and that is that they seem to lack rest. The lack that time of refreshment and renewal. Time where they take a step back from their roles and responsibilities to do something they enjoy...a date with their wife, golfing, surfing, a day at the spa (the spa is wonderful rest!). How underrated rest is for our growth and sustainment in the grace of God!
The scripture also mentions that we should be diligent to enter his rest. Doesn’t that seem like a contradiction? Usually when I think of diligence I think of someone who is working hard! The NIV translation says to "make every effort..." It is as if he is saying, "set it on your calander, make it a priority, make a concerted effort to make sure you enter this rest!" One thing I have had to remind myself is that rest is an investment in myself. Rest is like the oil change for my car, I can run without it for a while but pretty soon it will just lead to a breakdown.
Just as we are called to rest physically we are also called to rest our souls. We rest our souls by resisting that urge to worry, but instead taking those burdens to Him.
Matthew 11:27-29 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
I know I need to be more diligent in seeking rest, what about you? Are you resting physically? Are you resting your soul? Are you functioning at your best or is it time for that oil change? Make an investment in yourself today and enter His rest.
Thanks for reading,
Mel
Tomorrow's reading: Esther 9, Jonah 1, Hebrews 6-7
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Monday, November 30, 2009
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1 comment:
You're on fire! Resting is something I have had to learn to do. Something I have had to make a priority in my life. Realizing that I can give and give and give and give and give...but then breakdown because I didn't rest was about to be a huge reality for me. Learning how to give, give, give, rest, give, give, rest, give, rest...a great pattern to get into.
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