Give It a Rest Already!!

(Tyler and Christian at Mini Golf)

Rest is a challenge. I don't think anyone disputes that. We live in a fast paced world that is very performance based. Often our self-worth is caught up in the net of "what we can DO". We can feel like we're only as good as our house looks, our yard looks, our bank account looks... Even in ministry it can be about how many hours we are at the church, how many nights we give up for meetings. Perfectly good things in our life quickly spin out of control and out of balance. We burn out, are tempted toward anger and bitterness, and our joy is sapped...

We've forgotten the importance of rest. We've forgotten we're mere mortals! We've forgotten that our self worth is wrapped up in God, that we are his workmanship created for good works in Christ Jesus. We've forgotten that rest was and is God's idea. For it was God Himself who gave us the example when He rested from HIS work on the 7th day of creation. HE does not NEED rest, we do. 

Think...what brings you rest? Then, if need be, schedule it. Put it right on that crowded calendar in big red letters! Most importantly, keep your date with rest!

Here are some simple, inexpensive or free ways that I find rest. I'd love to hear how you find rest in the comments sections!

~Smores on the campfire

~Walks on a beach

~Knitting

~Light gardening or a visit to a green house (especially when I stop to smell the flowers)

~Reading a great book

~Listening to worship music, singing, playing the piano

~Reading some good blogs

~Attending a church supper or fellowship time

~Anything fun away from the house and the phones

~Sitting for a moment and practicing deep, cleansing breaths

~Dates with my husband

~All of the above with my family with me or around me

~Times out with friends

Resting is not laziness until it, too, is out of balance. If rest becomes another idol (like busyness) then it becomes a bad thing. But rest IS necessary if we are to continue on...

So...give it a rest already!!!

"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:9-11