It's hard to work 50-60 hours a week and still maintain a good workout schedule and some semblance of a social life, not to mention my spiritual life. November was good, as was most of December.
But then Christmastime came. It seemed like I was working and traveling and working some more. That's when I realized that I'm tired. My body just can't keep up the pace that I could those first couple of months of working two jobs.
I have forgotten was rest looks like.
Rest (for me) looks like taking off of work on Thursdays, so that I can have at least one day a week to just spend time with the Lord, rejuvenate, and catch up on all my TV shows I've missed during the week. As the weather gets better, I will be doing my devotionals outside in my hammock again. So Thursdays are becoming my "sabbath."
One verse that always stands out to me is in Mark 6:31, which says, "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, 'Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'" (NIV).
Basically, the disciples were all excited about what the Lord had been doing through them. In the midst of everything going on, the disciples didn't even get a chance to eat, so Jesus told them to retreat with Him to a quiet place and rest.
Did you hear that? Jesus told them to rest. It wasn't a question.
The disciples hopped on a boat to head to get some rest. On the other side of the Sea of Galilee, there was a crowd of over 5,000 people waiting to hear or see or touch Jesus. Granted, the disciples might not have gotten as much rest as they wanted, but once they took a little time to themselves, the Lord continued to use them in powerful ways as they helped pass out food to 5,000+ men, women, and children.
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in always going going going that I don't give myself a chance to rest. If I'm spending all of my time working hard and loving people, that means I'm being effective, right?
Wrong.
If we are constantly pouring out into other people and things, we will quickly get drained. David had something to say about that in Psalm 23:1-6 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" (ESV).
Don't just skim over that passage because you grew up hearing it in Sunday school. Read over it one more time (for real, it's right there-just go do it.)
The Lord makes me lie down-that would imply rest. It's in those moments of rest that He restores our souls. Our God is so good. If we rest in Him, He will show us how to live righteously, we don't have to fear evil, we will be comforted, and we will be filled to the point of overflowing.
It's out of that overflow that we are able to serve effectively (because it's Christ through us, not our own talent and ability).
I'm not Superwoman, but I'm not supposed to be either. While no one ever told me I had to be, I placed that burden on myself. I have this mindset of, "Let's work as hard as I can to work to pay of my student loans and hopefully start saving for some better camera equipment." But that doesn't need to be done right. this. moment. And I need to be ok with that.
So I'm going to take my Thursdays off and use that as a time of connection with the Lord and rejuvenation.
PS-Can spring weather get here because I am ready to hammock and not freeze my butt off!!
But then Christmastime came. It seemed like I was working and traveling and working some more. That's when I realized that I'm tired. My body just can't keep up the pace that I could those first couple of months of working two jobs.
I have forgotten was rest looks like.
Rest (for me) looks like taking off of work on Thursdays, so that I can have at least one day a week to just spend time with the Lord, rejuvenate, and catch up on all my TV shows I've missed during the week. As the weather gets better, I will be doing my devotionals outside in my hammock again. So Thursdays are becoming my "sabbath."
One verse that always stands out to me is in Mark 6:31, which says, "Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, 'Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest'" (NIV).
Basically, the disciples were all excited about what the Lord had been doing through them. In the midst of everything going on, the disciples didn't even get a chance to eat, so Jesus told them to retreat with Him to a quiet place and rest.
Did you hear that? Jesus told them to rest. It wasn't a question.
The disciples hopped on a boat to head to get some rest. On the other side of the Sea of Galilee, there was a crowd of over 5,000 people waiting to hear or see or touch Jesus. Granted, the disciples might not have gotten as much rest as they wanted, but once they took a little time to themselves, the Lord continued to use them in powerful ways as they helped pass out food to 5,000+ men, women, and children.
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in always going going going that I don't give myself a chance to rest. If I'm spending all of my time working hard and loving people, that means I'm being effective, right?
Wrong.
If we are constantly pouring out into other people and things, we will quickly get drained. David had something to say about that in Psalm 23:1-6 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" (ESV).
Don't just skim over that passage because you grew up hearing it in Sunday school. Read over it one more time (for real, it's right there-just go do it.)
The Lord makes me lie down-that would imply rest. It's in those moments of rest that He restores our souls. Our God is so good. If we rest in Him, He will show us how to live righteously, we don't have to fear evil, we will be comforted, and we will be filled to the point of overflowing.
It's out of that overflow that we are able to serve effectively (because it's Christ through us, not our own talent and ability).
I'm not Superwoman, but I'm not supposed to be either. While no one ever told me I had to be, I placed that burden on myself. I have this mindset of, "Let's work as hard as I can to work to pay of my student loans and hopefully start saving for some better camera equipment." But that doesn't need to be done right. this. moment. And I need to be ok with that.
So I'm going to take my Thursdays off and use that as a time of connection with the Lord and rejuvenation.
PS-Can spring weather get here because I am ready to hammock and not freeze my butt off!!
So good! You are such a hard worker! One of the things I have discovered about rest is that it is daily. Daily going to the river, or pasture and being connected to His presence. That our focus his filled with Him. Bless you!
ReplyDelete-Jeremy