Rest is God’s idea. As we read the creation story we read about all the things God created and when he had finished his work he rested. Genesis 2:7 “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because, on that day, He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.”

I will be honest just sitting and doing very little to nothing can be hard for me. I seem to have the ability to look about and find one hundred things I should or could be doing. I almost feel some guilt about not having an agenda, something to do. My heart says don’t do that, but my head says yes you need to. Sometimes I win the battle with my mind and at other times not so much.

We read again in Matthew 11:28-30 ” Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Mark 6:31 “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

There are times when we need physical rest and mental rest. God is able to give us both of those. There is nothing wrong with staying home and really just relaxing, taking time to get a reset. Today is a partial day of rest for me, I have not done much. A load of laundry that just finished drying, cooking our breakfast while listening to my choir songs, taking a walk, reading my Bible and writing in my journal, all while wearing my very comfy clothes. Trust me, I did not want to do the laundry, but yesterday was too busy, so today it was! My sweet husband who works so hard all week is asleep beside me in the chair. It is cold outside and starting to drizzle a little, the perfect day for rest.

I am going to purpose to enjoy my rest more, do it more often than not and hopefully not feel too guilty for it. I know both my body and my mind need time to regroup. My heart needs to focus more on the Lord and less on stuff.
Unfortunately, stuff can occupy our minds and hearts to the point that we forget to pray, read and just spend time in quiet communion with the Lord.
It was never the Lord’s design for his people to be rushing about always on the move, gaining more stuff to occupy their time and finances and oft times become the idles in their lives.

I am going to purpose to take time for rest. I am going to focus my time getting this temple that I live in healthier, in an even closer relationship with my Lord, reading his word, praying and gaining wisdom. This world will tell you if you do not do enough stuff then you are lazy, but I beg to differ. If rest was good enough for the God who created it all, it is good enough for me and you.

Take a rest, sit quietly alone with the Lord. Hang out at home doing nothing just breathing, being thankful for the time, enjoying this time you have right where you are! When we are rested we make better decisions, we feel better and so on…try it, you will like it! Oh and leave the guilt out of it!