Rest : Being at Peace
These days, everyone is running around? Pressure in work, family, school – Where is there time to rest?
Well, one should ask ”Why is rest so important?”
- The word REST is found 300X in the Bible, and means to be still or be at peace
- Matthew 11:28-30 If it wasn’t that important, Jesus would have never mentioned it
- Physical and Spiritual Rest
- Psalms 23
- Physical Aspect with a spiritual application
- Exodus 20:8-11, Hebrew 4:2-11
- Spiritual Aspect – Resting with God
- Illustration: Imagine this couple with a great number of friends and they hang out with these friends every time that they are together. Well, eventually that couple is going to need some alone time to get to no one another more and strengthen the relationship right? God only asks us to be with Him always, but only singles out one day where He really wants that one-on-one time with us.
- Wait Priscilla, I can’t just take a day off? I need money, I need to do homework!
- Joshua 21:44 God’s Promise
- Enemies could be anything! Your mind, worries, bills, bosses, our habits…
- Daniel 2:1-19 Element of Trust
- Note: when Daniel went into vision, he fell asleep – the brother knocked out!
- If I was going to die because of a crazy King like Nebuchadnezzar, I would have ran, begged, cried, gone into fetal position… but Daniel goes to bed…. Why? Because he knew God would keep him safe!
- Your physical and spiritual variables are intertwined. We trust in God to sleep, to rest in Him, and in turn, our bodies show more rest in how we are…. Its very sad when you see exhausted people with black under their eyes, they have worry wrinkles, and they’re like “Yeah, I’m Christian…” Are you sure?
- And it goes deeper: Sabbath is a physical manifestation of spiritual trust! Where we thank God that we don’t have to worries about the cares of this life.
- Studies have even shown that those that take a Sabbath rest, actually do better at work, at school, and better daily living performance.
- During the time that you sleep, the body starts to detox and creates hormones that help you to look/feel younger. Ladies, say goodbye to makeup and hello to sleep.
- In fact, your heart actually beats slower on Saturday… Really think about it
- This is definitely something to pray over (myself included), because we get so involved in exams, in drama, in work that we forget how fragile we are
- If the Devil doesn’t make you bad, he makes you busy! Too busy to rest, pray, to build relationships....
- As you get older, sleep quantity is not as affected as sleep quality.
- TIPS – Go to bed early, wake early, don’t eat heavy foods at night, don’t eat late, don’t have ambient noise as you’re sleeping, pray, pray, pray…
- So if you start making healthy habits now, that better rest you will get later
- So, can we allow God to help us trust Him and rest – sleep and to give God His Sabbath as well?
