Good Morning!
I pray all is going well with you this morning –
Hopefully, you have been
able to get some much needed rest this holiday weekend
Rest – it is an important
element which often gets overlooked
It is so essential to … REST
I know that it sometimes
feels as though there is no time to REST –
Yet, our bodies [and our
lives] cannot function properly without times of refreshing
There is a story in the
book of I Kings which tells of a day in the life of the prophet Elijah:
‘He sat down under a
solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die.’ I Kings 19:4
Here we have a mighty man
of God, on the heels of a great victory
He had called down fire from heaven … and it fell! I
Kings 18:38
Yet, here he is one
chapter later completely despondent
What happened?
The battle had exhausted
him and left him utterly undernourished – spiritually & physically
And what was God’s
prescription?
What grand solution did
Jehovah-Rophe, the LORD who heals, offer?
REST, EAT, GET IN THE
PRESENCE OF GOD
‘Then he lay down under
the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and
eat.” … He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the LORD came
back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat for the journey is
too much for you.”' I Kings 19:5-7
THE JOURNEY IS TOO MUCH
We have not had to call
down fire from heaven –
Yet many of us have felt
that the journey through 2020 has been too much, ‘way too much’
But – take heart
Despite the reality of the
challenges, there still remains a REST
‘Thus far, you have survived 100% of the toughest moments
life has thrown your way.’
LIKE AN INFANT
I had a discussion a while
back with my friend where I was sharing the importance of REST
I told her there are times
when I get restless, impatient and downright cranky;
whining and sometimes crying; wanting to be consoled and
left alone all at once
In those moments, I shared
with her, I imagine a scene plays out in heaven…
The angels are gathered
around the throne and they are completely perplexed:
‘My LORD, WHAT is wrong
with her?!’
And I imagine the LORD calmly
responding,
‘She’s fine … she just
needs a nap. She’s tired and hungry and she needs her Heavenly Father.’
It used to be that way when
my sons were infants. It was not often but they would have those moments when they
would start to get ‘fussy’. They were tired, or hungry [sometimes both] and they
needed REST! Sometimes all they
needed was to know that I was close by, that I was present ...and then they could REST.
It is amazing what a little rest will do –
emotionally, spiritually and physically
It
also helps our perspective, so we may see more clearly
But the act of rest it is not a one-time occurrence
We must be intentional
about seeking out regular moments of rest
& rejuvenation
Forty days after that
encounter with the angel of the LORD, Elijah was in a cave;
And the LORD came to him
where he was:
‘The LORD
said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the
LORD is about to pass by.” I
Kings 19:11
Even if you are too weary
from the current journey and for the next journey,
The LORD will meet you
right where you are
He is the Omni-Present One …there is
no escaping His presence
HIS PRESENCE IS KEY
The refueling – whatever
that may look like – is great
Water, food, exercise, prayer, meditation
The rest – in all its
forms – is helpful
Naps, sleep, sitting in silence
But the getting in the
presence of the LORD – it is absolutely essential
His presence is key!
This morning –
Whether you only have
today or the remainder of this week heading into the new year;
Be intentional about
carving out meaningful moments of rest, in His presence
Take time to pursue and
enjoy REST –
recovering
from the present journey and preparing for all that is to come
Have a Rest-Filled & Blessed Day!
‘He gives His beloved
rest.’ Psalm 127:2
‘The LORD provides for
those He loves, even while they are sleeping.’ Psalm 127:2
