A Time to Rest

 From A Celebration of the Simple Life...

"And he said unto them, come ye apart into a desert place and rest awhile." - Mark 6:31

When my husband and I spent a week with some of our Amish friends last summer, I had to give up my computer, TV, hair dryer, and curling iron, because electricity was not readily available.  I didn't mind giving up TV, because I don't watch it much anyhow.  Thanks to a fresh perm, my hair looked okay.  Even though I missed my computer, it was kind of nice to take a break from answering e-mail messages.  So what did I do all week besides visiting with our Amish friends and helping our where I could?  I rested and reflected on the beauty of God's creation and focused on His goodness to us.

It's important to examine ourselves spiritually through rest and reflection.  We can't do our best work with nerves that are taut from being constantly under pressure.  It's not good to spend all our time working and pushing to get ahead.  Jesus invites His disciples to come with Him to a quiet place where they could be refreshed.  

Meditation and time spent with the Lord gives us more understanding and a sense of oneness with Him.  It helps us refresh and renew, both physically and mentally.  We can draw closer to God when we rest and meditate on Him.  If we think about God's Word, we'll gain strength and renewal.  Why not look for a quiet place today where you can rest and find a sense of strength on Jesus?

Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I get caught up in my work and forget that I need rest.  Remind me regularly that I need to rest in You. 

Amen

Resting on the faithfulness of Christ our Lord,

Resting on the fullness of His own sure word;

Resting on His wisdom, on His love and power,

Resting on His covenant from hour to hour.