Resting in God
“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.’”1
In today’s busy world, rest is usually something reserved for a few hours a night. And even then, we struggle to put our minds at ease because we are already thinking about the next day! But rest " something different from actual sleep " is a good thing, and something God wants us to do. Rest allows our mind, body, and soul to be renewed in God.
Jesus and his apostles were always at work. Serving others constantly was part of their normal day. In today’s scripture I love how Jesus tells them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Just as God rested on the seventh day after creating the world and all that is in it, Jesus understood the importance of rest and wanted to be sure to teach this to his apostles as well. Instead of sending the apostles off on their own to rest though, he invites them to come with him. Jesus is our place of rest. He is our source of peace and strength and he invites us to come to him and rest as well. In Matthew 11:28 we read, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Our soul is like a well of water. If we continue giving and giving of ourselves, but are not receiving water from our source, we will run dry. A dry well is not beneficial to anyone. If we dry out, we become ineffective in our service to others. We cannot give what we do not have. However, as we rest in Christ, our well is renewed, and we can continue our service to him successfully and efficiently. Scripture is filled with God's promises to provide rest when we seek Him. We must intentionally listen to his invitation to go and rest in his presence.
Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for the invitation to come and rest in you. Allow me to make my quiet time with you a priority, so that I can continue to serve you efficiently. I pray that if I am feeling like a dry well, that you would renew me and fill me up. Whatever I may be facing today, I choose to rest in your presence. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.
1. Mark 6:31 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.
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