For
in six days the LORD made heaven
and
earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
and
rested on the seventh day.
Exodus 20:11
Rest—essential to a healthy life!
Relaxation, inactivity, break, ease, respite, recess, time-out, downtime all are
words we use to indicate that we are taking a break from the hopping, popping,
bustling schedule of life.
I am not talking about a vacation—a trade
of one form of busyness for another. Be honest! How many times have you returned
home totally rested after a vacation? I am talking about taking a day off to do
nothing. I can hear you gasping for air. I feel your pulse racing and sense the
rise of your blood pressure.
Jesus recommended rest to His disciples, “Come
away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) After
much “doing” and “teaching,” they needed to rest not only their bodies but
their spirits.
For most of us, it seems difficult to find
a desolate place to draw away from the world. With cell phones, IPods, computers
and GPS we are never hidden from those who want to interrupt our rest to meet
their needs. But without rest we often become wide-eyed brain-dead zombies just
trying to get through another day before we collapse for the evening.
Rest often brings renewed energy and
excitement needed to complete the tasks ahead. Jesus and His disciples had to
get on a boat, leave the shoreline and head to a desolate place to rest. Even
then others saw them and made their way ahead of the boat to the intended place
of rest. But I have to believe that the time spent with Jesus on the boat was a
time of refreshing and rest from their daily work.
Why
not give it a try—that day of rest. Turn off the cell phone, find a desolate
place, grab your fishing pole or a good book and kick back away from the
stresses of your daily responsibilities. Feel your muscles relax as your
breathing slows and before long you may even find yourself enjoying the quiet.
Follow the plan of the One who created
heaven and earth. He took a break. Follow the advice of the Son of God who
ministered to a needy world. He took a break. Follow your heart and listen to
your body speak and give yourself a break!
©JP
2013
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