How often, as an adult, do we plop down and put our feet up to rest a bit? Or, perhaps we push, pull and demand of ourselves until we drop completely exhausted with nothing else to offer anyone for the rest of the day or evening? We can't recharge in 5-10 minutes like a child, but take hours of recoup time because we didn't slow down and pace ourselves?
George McDonald said that, "sleep is God's contrivance for giving us the help he cannot get into us when we are awake." I read this quote recently in an August 2014, "In Touch," magazine article written by Winn Collier, "Re-placing the Sabbath." It made me smile, realizing how much God wants us to rest and depend on Him. If you want to read the whole article click here:"Re-placing the Sabbath"
After reading this excellent article I was challenged to reexamine my hectic schedule and yield my ideas and activities up for examination by the King! Does my day begin with "self-exertion or God-dependence?" The Holy Spirit has used this author to stir my heart anew when pondering the balance of work, play, worship, and rest this Sunday.
Winn Collier writes, "Our work in the world is noble and good, but only when placed in proper perspective. If we believe our week begins with our work, we become defined by what we do rather than by what God does." Let's begin to look for what God is already doing and join Him, putting aside our preconceived ideas about what our days should look like. It's going to be different for everyone, and Praise God, that's O.K.!
One final challenge by Winn Collier, "We must acknowledge the Lord as ruler of all our days if we are to combat the fatigue of a life hinged on our own efforts. Our posture regarding time can orient us either toward grace and rest or toward self-effort and exhaustion." Even though this article was written a while ago, God knew I needed to read it this week. Isn't He a good God? His timing always astounds me!
Let us truly rest today and enter into God's rest every day even amongst our daily duties, just like Hebrews tells us. Hebrews 3:13, says to encourage one another daily so that we will not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. If you read all the way from there until chapter 4, verse 12, you might be surprised at the very popular last verse and what proceeds it.
In case you are wondering why I'm not in church today, it is because my little children are all sick and have been all week, preceded by a half a week of me having to rest by midwife's orders, preceding a week of moving.... Yes, rest is important and a wonderful gift from God!
I am sorry that you have had sick children, that can be so hard on everyone, and yourself needing rest, you are so right rest is very important. I find that my attitude diminishes the more tired I get, so I just need to sit and maybe nap for a bit and life is a whole lot brighter and my attitude improves. If you are seeing a midwife does that mean you are expecting a baby?? Take it easy and take that gift of rest from God. Blessings and thanks for linking up at Good Morning Mondays.
ReplyDeleteYes, we're expecting our seventh in June and it hasn't been near as easy this time around. I just came from Summer Nicole's blog, "Messy faces, Happy Families," and had a wonderful laugh about the sometimes difficult truth of being pregnant: it is a wonderful thing, but also at times, hard. I needed a really good laugh!
DeleteWe learn so much of our God from our little ones, don't we?! I can't tell you how often I am gently reminded to live with more joy, more delight, more honesty, and more rest just to name a few--by watching my children be childlike! Oh how I long for a childlike spirit of my own! So glad your daughter is healthy and God is knitting together an amazing Story for your family. Looking forward to reading more! :)
ReplyDeleteI visited your blog, Messy Faces, Happy Families! I love your humor and honesty. I always thought a good bumper sticker would be simply, "Embrace the Mess: God already did it for you!" It is true, we learn so much through our little ones!
ReplyDeleteThere is also nothing like a Sunday nap! We try and rest on the Sabbath after church, the internet is off all day so there is no distractions and it really helps to recharge for the week ahead. God was being good to us when he said to rest on the seventh day! Thanks for sharing with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays this week :)
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