Posts Tagged ‘ Rest ’
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
MATTHEW 11:28, NASB
The Great Physician has healed our souls and can give rest to our spirit. Should we not invite others to worship him and discover this healing and rest?
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1, NASB
Life can be hell. Just as relief from the hot sun can come from standing in the shade, so too can resting in God comfort us from the burning torment in this life and the life to come.
Do not lose sleep over foolish choices, and get a taste of wisdom from Proverbial Thought!
Whether it is the book of Ecclesiastes or Proverbs chapter 6 or many other passages, the Bible talks a lot about what distracts us and takes up our time. These things cost us rest and sleep.
The poem today was written after a few days not being able to sleep inside a building. I was tired, but I had been kept busy during my days.
When I was able to get back to … not even a bed, but a futon that had recently been acquired from others by a friend I was staying with, I was ready to fall fast asleep. Instead, I wrote this poem for God.
He is always worth a little less sleep.
losing sleep
people lose sleep for various reasons
whether for work or for recreation
to read a good book or be with a person
but if i am losing sleep for anything
whether for all that mentioned or nothing
as long as i lose sleep seeking my King
if i can lose sleep for things here on earth
i should be able to for Him Who deserves
the very Creator in Whom i find my worth
Find how close God is through His wisdom as discussed at Proverbial Thought.
This is a special reminder for all of us who are facing trials, confusion, and difficulties.
I will let God’s Word speak for itself:
“I called on your name, O Lord,
from the depths of the pit;
you heard my plea, ‘Do not close
your ear to my cry for help!’
You came near when I called on you;
you said, ‘Do not fear!’“You have taken up my cause, O Lord;
you have redeemed my life.”
Lamentations 3:55-58, ESV
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
. . .
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.
John 14:18-21, 27
Do not neglect rest nor refreshment for your mind and soul with some wisdom from Proverbial Thought!
Honestly, I feel a little intimidated looking at my reading schedule and assignments in each syllabus. It is enough to make anyone want to run for the hills!
Like anyone in ministry, though, I want to do a good job. I want to take on more than I can handle and do it all without complaining or asking for too much help.
That is why I post this today. This is a reminder to me and all of my compatriots in ministry and all those who are like us. Current and past Seminarians know what I am talking about here, so I dedicate this to all of us, in the name of the Lord!
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8, ESV19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.
Nehemiah 13:19-22, ESV
While I and we are doing good things – preparing our minds for fuller worship of God through better understanding, doing good works for the glory of the Father, serving others out of love and compassion – it becomes very easy to neglect proper rest and worship of God.
There must be time to simply read the Bible – not to study it and tear it apart to find good messages and lessons, but to simply soak up the Word of God.
There must be time to let the mind rest – to not stress about deadlines or making sure spell-check was thorough enough or meeting everyone else’s needs, but to be still and know that He is God.
There must be time to relax muscles and nerves – to not rush from place to place and lug around heavy, important looking books, but to “stop and smell the roses”, if you will, and enjoy the presence of the Lord … and family and friends.
May we all find rest in our Lord in this season.
