R.E.S.T.
We live in an “On The Go” world. Everyone is busy. Schedules are crazy full. We struggle to find time to do anything extra. Our busy, full, crazy, scheduled to a T life is not new to our society. There has been plenty to fill up the days of mankind since, well, since the fall of man. Before the fall what was Adam’s duty? He was to fill the earth, and rule over and take care of the animals and land (Gen. 1:28-30; 2:15). The Bible never speaks of this being a burden on Adam. It actually says in Gen. 1:28 that this was God’s blessing for Adam and Eve. In the midst of caring for the world God had created for them, they had the joy of experiencing God in a whole different way through interacting with Him. Adam and Eve had a beautiful life of joyful duties, but there was no stress involved. There was no need to schedule in a moment to sit and talk with God, or to minister to one another. However, when we look at life after the fall the curse God places on them is one of pain, suffering, hard work, and death. Once we started down that sin road life became busy.
In a busy life we tend to forget to take moments to rest. Wait, but we get sleep, which is rest, right? Well, sleep is good, but on the seventh day when creation was done it says God rested from the work of creation. Rest is a purposeful action taken on our part to set aside a time for refreshing. Jesus sought out moments of rest during His time here on earth. He looked for quiet places to step away. If God purposefully rested and Jesus sought to do the same, why do we run from the idea? The fact that it was important enough to mention it in scripture several times should give us pause. Honestly, it should be a large, blinking, warning light that says, “Hey you! REST!”
So what do I mean by R.E.S.T.? Remember I said rest was a purposeful action taken on our part.
R – Refresh
Allow God to refresh your spirit. Set everything aside and focus only on Him. Be still and know that he is God.
E – Embrace
Embrace God’s Word. The more you know of His Word the better prepared you are to face the things in this life that will come your way.
S – Surrender
Surrender to Him. Easy? No! Necessary? Yes! The moment I try to fit God into my day I have messed up. It is not my day, it is God’s day. It is not my life, it is God’s life. Lay down the reigns every day. When you realize you are picking them back up repent and set them down again. Who would you rather have as your guide; you who have control but can’t see past the end of your nose? Or God who holds the future in His hands? Which leads me to the last letter…
T – Trust
Trust that he is watching out for you and that he knows what is best for you. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU WILL NOT HAVE TROUBLES IN YOUR LIFE! However, when we know where to place our trust that changes things, mainly our attitude. Trust breeds hope.
Take time to R.E.S.T. every day! His Word promises peace, shelter in His shadow, and rest if we will come to Him. Why let this busy life rob you of that joy?
Psalm 91: 1-2 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”