Have you ever thought about how we have forgotten this commandment. Sundays are just another day in our own personal time called the “weekend.” Oh we may go to church, but then it’s filled with errands and getting ready for the week. We keep going, going, going…
In Genesis 1 God rests on the seventh day after creating the world as we know it. God takes time to rest, but we just keep busy. So often I feel like I need it to be Monday so I can get back to routine and recover from a jam-packed weekend that was anything but restful. God rested after His work. Why is it we think we can keep going without doing the same?
Part of the reason our lives are so stressful is because we are constantly on the go. Our lives are filled with activity. Our to-do lists are always a mile long. We have no time to rest, recover, reflect, regroup.
In Hebrews 12:1, we are told to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” We often treat life like a sprint, but we can’t keep at that pace. We wear down. We tire out. We can’t endure. If we are constantly running on fumes, we run the risk of not doing things well, especially important things — loving our families well, caring for ourselves well, and loving God well. In Hebrews 4:10-11, the writer advises “whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest.”
God commanded us to rest because he knows us and what is best for us. We cannot be intentional if we are barely keeping our heads above water. Just as we talked yesterday about the importance of spending time with God, we need rest to allow His truths to sink in and to prioritize our lives as God has commanded.
Last Friday, I asked you to go ahead and plan out this week. As you go through your week, I want you to evaluate what you are doing. Are there times filled with unnecessary activity? How often do you feel tired? Are there things you wish you could do better but don’t have the time or energy to do so? Think on these things as you go through your week and this Friday, we will discuss setting up for success by focusing on what’s important.
Lastly, make time for rest. Give your spirit and your mind time to breathe.
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