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Rest
As a child, I hated naptime. I wanted to be outside running, riding bicycles, and playing baseball. Anything but sleep in the daytime! Today, I love Sunday afternoon naps. God knew the importance of rest. The scriptures tell us that many times Jesus retreated from the crowds to rest and renew His physical and spiritual strength. He knew that when we are tired and exhausted, we are tempted to cut corners, to make easy choices instead of right choices, and Sunday church becomes an option instead of a commitment.
We have become a society that emphasizes leisure activities that consume all of our time to the point of exhaustion and leaves no time for spiritual or physical renewal. We need to slow down, allow children to have lazy summers of being children instead of constant, organized activities. We need time for casual conversations that lead to deep thoughts. We need time to stop and truly worship instead of a conscious- soothing quick devotion! Slow down!! We cannot hear God when we are tuned into the world! We must seek God with all of our hearts, not in our spare time! We are captive to busy lives and we are missing the important things in life.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’”. (Psalm 91:1-2, NIV)
“‘Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back from captivity’”. (Jeremiah 29:12-14a, NIV)
Brinda Blair
Magee, MS
