This subject has been on my heart and mind so much that I went back through my archives and was surprised that I had not already written a full article on this topic of rest.
Today, I sit here on a Monday finishing up my second movie…after sleeping on and off for several hours today! —Not my normal Monday! I like Mondays at home to get my week kicked off on a good note with my home, and exercise of some sort. I may occasionally for a reason take a down day through the week but my normal rest day of choice is Sunday. It has for a long time been in my heart and at the forefront of my mind to have that day of rest if at all possible.
I realize that I don’t know all of the ins and outs of what the Bible says about current rest on Sundays, but I do know that the God of the universe rested.
Some Sundays I do rest better than others. MOST Sundays, I go to church, eat lunch, take a nap, and rest…even mind-work is limited on most Sundays!
The last two Sundays have had more work than usual, going against my norm…which brings me back to today, resting on the couch, watching movies, and sleeping!
When I skip my Sunday nap, I have noticed a pattern. At some point later in the week, I usually find myself needing one—and TAKING one!! That is even besides doing work on a Sunday.
Recently, I was talking with someone who mentioned getting sick when they didn’t take rest. It occurred to me at that time…How can we as humans think we can push ourselves to the limit, not allowing our bodies (and minds) to rest, and basically not have repercussions? It is not how we were designed. Well, although my last two Sundays’ activities were for reasons that I thought were good, I still have come down with something (thus my day of rest today). Whether or not that was the contributing factor, I will not know; however, the reminder for this article still hit me.
I heard a Sunday School teacher once say that our bodies were basically made for what I’ll call a ‘seventh-day reset.’ I may have mentioned this in a previous article, but I have still not researched it because I can tell you that, from my own personal experience, I ‘feel it in my bones!’ After lunch on Sunday, it’s not long until I am ready for my nap. And by my normal bedtime around 10:00 p.m. that night, I am ready for bed.
Reset and ready for the week•
I truly believe that rest equals trust. If we don’t allow time for rest, are we afraid we don’t have enough time to fit in things that need to be done? Have we scheduled too much? Or, are we not trusting God to help us meet our goals? Are our goals realistic, or are we trying to prove something? Perhaps, that we can do it all?
My dad once told me when I was in college, “You can’t keep your nose to the grindstone all the time.” He was so right!
Jesus said…
“Come to me, all 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.”
Matthew 11:28-29 ESV
I don’t think that when the Bible says that faith without works is dead (See James 2:14-26) that it means to exhaust ourselves completely—regularly. You can be busy about the Father’s business; and my busy might look a ton different than your busy. My busy might involve quite a bit of time alone to think, pray, receive, and then write what I feel God has put on my heart, etc. If I fill up that time with what others see as busy, it may look like I’m doing a lot for the Lord, but in reality, I may be fostering approval of others over that of God’s. It’s not about how much we can do, but doing the things God has put in our hearts to do.
“and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”
1 Corinthians 12:5-7, 11 ESV
Regardless of the gift, activity, or service, God also gave rest. We get in such habits of life, and succumb to such pressure and cultural “norms” at times that it’s hard to step away; yet God gave week-long rests to His people—not just Sabbath rest. It was not an option. Maybe the “norm” needs a change-up.
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
Genesis 2:2-3 ESV
If God rested, whether for example or otherwise, how do we think we can get by without it?
Embrace it. Thank God for it. Celebrate it.
Simply Celebrate With Jackie 