Mentoring Moment #3
You can rest...
How would you feel if I told you it is commanded that you rest? Would you be surprised? Would it cause anxiety in you or would you feel guilty about it? Can you receive that command as a blessing?
Well, it’s true, the Ten Commandments asserts that each of us is to take a day to rest and worship to honor the Lord. Is this music to your weary ears? God doesn’t want us exhausted and depleted - His heart for us is to have restoration! It’s part of His divine plan that our souls would be refreshed as we rest in Him.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work.”
-Exodus 20:8-10
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Rest is an act of faith and a gift and blessing from God but so often we don’t know how to receive it. Our worlds are running at lightning pace, and it seems work is never more than a device away. And expectations to perform, have perfect lives, and achieve all the goals is ever present. Every part of our lives is suffering because of it. We have forgotten how to simply be, to daydream and explore, to relax knowing we have nothing to do.
Personally, understanding this is God’s design for my life gave me the courage and freedom to step into practicing a weekly Sabbath. It has blessed my life so much and truly showed me the heart of the Father and His kindness towards me. I want to encourage you to begin making a habit of a weekly day of rest - you will be shocked at all the benefits:
Shift your focus:
“Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
-Psalm 46:11
Exchange your burdens for peace:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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
Learn to receive:
In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.
-Psalms 23:2-3
Renew your hope:
“They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”
-Isaiah 40:31
Connect to Him:
“Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”
-John 15:4-5