Tag: rest

Resting As He Rested

As I sketched the above drawing, I originally started out practicing how to draw trees. Funny thing about that tree, drawing it on the left side of the paper proved to be harder for me than drawing it on the right side. 😄 One would think it would be the same. So after I finished with the tree, I thought about something a friend of mine said about writing a thought or something to go with the drawings. I decide to drop a fella in there resting against the tree. After adding the scripture in there I thought about the Friday devotional I needed to send out and since we were headed into the weekend it seemed to fit just right.

Six days we’re to work, to get things done. Whether we work in an office, an industrial setting, a farm, or in the medical field, we are to work six days and then rest. The seventh day is to be a day of rest. To give our bodies and minds a rest. If God, our Father, created the world in six days and on the seventh day rested, shouldn’t we follow His example and do the same? It isn’t that He needed the rest, as much as He was teaching us to rest. He knew that we couldn’t go seven days a week of working and not resting. Do you or someone you know fit in this category? I don’t think the day of the week matters as much as taking that seventh day to rest.

Remember that saying about burning the candle at both ends? Eventually the candle will burn all the way down to the middle and then burn out. Just as the candle burns out, we also will burn out if we aren’t careful. As long as we are here on this earth, there is work for us to do; and when our work is finished, then we will be with Him. I think maybe that’s why God wants us to have a day of rest, to recharge, and refresh so that we can handle the tasks He has for us to do.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

This coming from Jesus, as He goes on to say…

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 11:29

So take that seventh day to rest, recharge, and listen to the Lord as He refreshes your soul. God bless!

Recharge

Have you ever picked up your cell phone to make a call only to discover that it was dead and needed a charge? Or as you head out the door running late for work or an appointment you discover your Bluetooth device needed charging. Talk about annoying.

Just as our devices need to be recharged we also need a recharge. When we neglect to take care of ourselves, we become easy targets for the enemy to attack. We already know he comes at us in multiple ways. Whether it is a subtle attack or a full blown attack, if we don’t take the time to recharge our spirit man not only will we be ill prepared for an attack, we won’t see it coming.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Now, I don’t know about you, but that sure does sound nice to me. Imagine if you will, going to the Lord and saying something like this: Jesus, I’m tired. I don’t know how I’m going to come up with the money to pay that unexpected bill. The kids are always arguing, my spouse is working two jobs and we still can’t seem to get ahead. I can’t take it anymore!

Imagine Jesus smiling and nodding His head thoughtfully as He lets you vent and pour out your heart telling Him all about your troubles and not being able to make ends meet. About the unexpected bill that only adds to mound of bills needing to be paid. He listens attentively until your spent and have run out of things to say. Can you feel His presence as He wraps His loving arms around you and says here, let’s trade and I’ll carry that for you so you can rest. My burden is light compared to yours. This humble Man offering to take your burden so you can rest! And then it happens. You feel an energy beginning to bubble up inside of you and it feels as though you can do anything! Your ready to continue on your journey and as you hug this amazing Man thanking Him for helping you and giving you a place to rest it hits you; time has flown by and you not only feel energized but you have a spring in your step as you continue on your way.

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Are you weary? Call on Jesus and wait on Him as He strengthens and refreshes you so you can continue on your journey. God bless!

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