I was having lunch with a friend of mine this week who recently wrote a book called Finding Your YES. We were talking about our callings and how God is working in our lives. She had commented that she has so many ideas to expand her reach for God’s Kingdom through her ministry, but there wasn’t enough time in the day to do all she wanted and dreamed of doing. I had to laugh a bit. I told her that I had felt a similar drive at various times in my life. But, currently, I am in a season of REST. God has shown me over the last year and a half that YES…He has asked me serve Him and His children on this new journey and season of my life. And YES…I have responded to His call in my life to support, encourage, and share with others the love of Christ . But also, YES…I have heard God inviting me and showing me I need to REST, too. The most difficult decisions for me in saying YES to rest are saying NO to many other opportunities that are important to me…but those may not be the best opportunities for me, at this time.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
When we study REST in the Bible, I specifically relate to two types of rest.
- PHYSICAL REST: Physical rest in scripture is the provision God has made for us to have time and take time to rest our bodies. We need to cease our work to replenish our physical strength and health.
“And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
- SPIRITUAL REST: Spiritual rest is our need to find peace and soul-food by the relationship, comfort and love we experience when we spend time with God. To let go of our control and let God take control of our lives… to trust and have faith in Him.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvaiton, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
When we are burdened, it is not enough to just take a nap, although that may be needed too. Our burdens often include a spiritual fever that requires us to slow down and create margin in order to spend time with our Savior. For only through the power of God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in us are we able to replenish our souls to find peace and joy in all circumstances. This type of rest and time with God allows us to put our trust in Him and to develop a deeper relationship with Him, which breaks the chains and burdens of believing we have to do it all on our own. Both types of rest are often needed for us to truly feel released from our toils and replenished in our strength and health.
Christine reminded me that in order to say YES to God to serve Him, we also must say NO to other things. Or to say it differently, we must say NO to certain requests of our time and resources in order to have the time and resources to say YES to God’s calling and nudges in our lives. This is a blessing to say YES to God. To give ourselves margin to be available to respond to the quiet whispers of His voice when He nudges us. Make space for Him, my Friends. Have courage to say NO, so you may have the freedom to say YES for the better choices and YES to rest whether it is a much needed nap or a time of solitude and silence with our Lord.
QUESTONS TO PONDER:
- What do you do when you feel that you need physical or spiritual rest?
- How has God nudged you to slow down and spend some quiet time with Him so he may give you a peace that is beyond our understanding?
- When did you last wrestle with the lies from the enemy that tell you to keep going, to stay busy, to say YES whenever you are asked to help with something? What did that look like and how did you respond?
- What action or choice can you do next to say YES to the invitation of rest… to be replenished in the arms of Jesus for your physical and spiritual health.
- What decision are you able to make today to let go of your need to do it all on your own and say YES to put your trust in God?
PRAYER: (Praying Romans 12:1-2)
Abba, Father. You are a merciful and loving God. Help me to present my body and spirit to you as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you through my actions and decisions. Let my choices for the better YES be an act of worship to You. Help me resist the urge to conform to this world, the pressures of society and my own selfishness, but remind me that I am transformed to a new creation in Jesus Christ. I know you have renewed my mind and soul. Help me to discern what is your will so I may respond YES to you. I desire to do what is good, acceptable and perfect in your eyes, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.
Hugs & blessings, Sweet Circle.
Stacy
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