Rest

5-26-2009

It’s not often my wife and I get to spend an entire day with each other without going on vacation somewhere. She is busy teaching fitness classes, playing tennis, and getting work done, and I’m busy coaching baseball, speaking, doing business, in meetings, and whatever else seems to come up! Yesterday was probably the first day we didn’t have anywhere to go, literally. We simply stayed home, grilled out, and had fun in the pool. We even had time to teach our youngest puppy how to swim. Haley and I call alone time, quality time. This is the time where we shut out the world and simply relax. Granted, it doesn’t happen often, but when we make time to relax, it’s amazing how refueled you feel.

Isn’t it amazing when we listen to what God calls us to do, we find great results? Think about it, In Genesis chapter 2 verses 2-3 it says, “By the seventh day God had finished his work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” If God rests, why don’t we? For all of you that know me, you know the person that needs to hear this as much as anyone…ME! This is certainly one of my weaknesses. So where do we draw the line? How do we work the way God wants us to work without wasting time, and balance that with the proper rest?

Many biblical arguments arise out of the verses in the previous paragraph regarding the Sabbath. I chose not to argue about the bible, but instead apply the word of God. We need rest. Mark 6:31 says, “Come with me by yourselves to a quite place and get some rest.” This is Jesus speaking to the disciples. Due to their business, they were getting worn out, missing meals, and needing to refuel. If Jesus recommends his disciples rest, shouldn’t we? In a previous devotional we spoke about the difference between finding time and making time. In order to have rest, some of you are going to have to schedule it. I blocked off my calendar to spend a day of rest with my family, and I cannot begin to tell you how awesome it feels! My wife and I got to catch up, hang out, take a nap, swim, play with the dogs, etc. Yes, I have a ton of work to do, and now I will be a lot more productive while working. With rest, you will think faster and clearer. Your brain will function properly. Instead of simply being active at work, you will be more productive, and you will enjoy what you do more. Too much of anything is bad. We need water to live, but drink too much water and you drown! You have to work to make a living, but work too much, and you stop living.

Application:
1. When is the last day you turned the phones off, didn’t check email, and simply enjoyed your family?
2. Schedule those days more often!