WHY would I rest?
There’s so much to do!
There are places to see, people to meet. Friendships to make and conversations to be had.
There are women to fight for. There are children to support. There are men who need good influences.
There are policies to push. There are applications to be sent in.
There’s coffee to be drunk and streets to explore. There’s people to love and relationships to foster.
There is ministry to be done and there’s good news that needs to be spread.
Why would I spend time in my day doing nothing?
What a waste.
But wait a second. Not so fast. Let’s think about Jesus.
He rested. And He was a busy guy.
He had even more places to see and people to meet. He had more friendships to foster and conversations to be had.
He had even more people to fight for.
And yet He rested.
Mark 1:35 “While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, “Everybody’s looking for you.”
Mark 6:30-31 “The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.” ??
WHY.
I can’t seem to stop my brain any time there’s silence. Almost instantaneously a to do list will pop into my head and I’ll go over and over it. Why is it so hard to rest? To hear God?
Because God is a gentleman.
He won’t fight for our attention. If we choose to put things above Him, He’ll allow us to. Yes, He’s jealous of those things, but that’s the beauty of free will. We get to choose Him.
He isn’t yelling at us, He’s whispering. He’s gently pushing.
And the best way to hear His quiet voice?
Silence.
Rest.
Focus.
Breathing.
Listening.
It’s taking five minutes and telling God, “okay. I want to give this time to listening to your voice.”
It’s reading His word in the mornings and writing in a journal to the sound of birds outside (and maybe some goats, chickens, cows, and dogs depending on location)
It’s cultivating a peace orchard every morning. Creating a space in my heart that’s a safe place to go to in times of chaos.
It’s sitting with Jesus each morning. I close my eyes and Jesus sits down with me. Sometimes He’ll talk, sometimes He won’t. But either way it’s a time I treasure. You know those friends you’re so comfortable with, you can sit in silence and simply be together? Jesus is that friend. Whether He speaks very clearly to me or not at all, I always walk away refueled by His presence.
And then there’s sabbath – a concept that I’ve learned to flesh out.
Sabbath looks like disconnecting from the asks of the world and resting in the truths the Lord has laid on my life.
That I am loved.
I am enough.
It’s not about my works,
It’s about my heart.
It’s taking a day to allow the Lord to rework my priorities.
To sit in my thoughts, sort out feelings from reality, and allow Him to speak truth into the lies.
My face is breaking out and I think I look like a naked mole rat with a rash?
I’m beautiful not because of the outside, but because the Lord looks deeper than the outside. (also African water is not good for this girl’s skin so…. grace.)
I’m too much of a pushover.
What was really happening in that situation and where was the Lord in it? Was I trying to be kind?
What I said was way too direct. Was it coming from a place of love for the other person?
Everyone hates me. Direct lie. I am loved. I have the Creator of the Universe who loves me. Is that not enough? Jesus has given me friends who love me deeply. Don’t ever lose that.
While these lies are shouting in my head, I’ve learned that sabbath is a way to quiet them and listen to the Lord’s whispering truth.
And while there are so many other things I could be doing, I wouldn’t be able to do them half as well without rest and sabbath.
So here’s a question for you: how can you use rest as a tool to draw closer to the Lord today?
Hey you! Thank you SO much for reading this blog! Would you consider joining me on this mission around the world? There are two main ways I am asking for partnership in this:
1. PRAYER. I firmly believe that prayer is the most powerful way to make change happen. Will you pray for my team and I as we continue on this crazy journey in search of Jesus? That He will provide the funding? And that the Holy Spirit will begin working in those we will encounter while on the Race and continue working in those we have encountered?
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Thanks so much! 😀
