In Case You Need Permission…
Life in our contemporary society is so busy; there are a plethora of things that are before us, not just sometime, all the time! While our forefathers from the last century fought to get forty hour work weeks, we joyfully work over, even without pay to get the job done! Of course our motive usually is to "prove ourselves" so we can get more responsibility and work even longer hours.
Work does not end with the job. It seems as if everyone’s life is filled with celebrations that involve WORK! No longer do we have small parties with finger food – we have massive celebrations that require caterers and decorators and… we work to make our good times – great! We have weddings on ships and weddings in distant lands – we have a party for graduations and then another one for going away to college. While I am in favor of giving recognition and celebration for milestone events; have done it and earned a t-shirt in doing it. What I do know about all of this is that with all that we do, on the job and off, we seldom take time to rest.
In case you’re wondering if making time for rest is not scriptural, consider this:
30 The apostles returned from their mission[a] and gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught.
31 There was such a swirl of activity around Jesus, with so many people coming and going, that they were unable to even eat a meal. So Jesus said to his disciples, "Come, let’s take a break and find a secluded place where you can rest a while." Mark 6:3032 (The Passion Translation)
Sometimes the best you can do and all you need to do is to find a secluded place and get some REST!
Stealing away from the hustle and bustle of your lives won’t automatically give you more ability to hear from God, however. Before we can even give way to hear God we need to let the weariness roll off of us; we need to have our bodies and our minds refreshed, before our hearts can entertain a listening ear to hear what the Father would say to us. When is the right time for this? I can’t answer that, for each person is an individual. Yet each individual who commits their life to the Father, has a Father who’s concerned about them. He may call you away, as Jesus did His disciples; or He may stir your heart to ask Him what season are you in. Whatever the case, rest is included in the bereft package:
You satisfy my every desire with good things.
You’ve supercharged my life so that I soar again
like a flying eagle in the sky!
6 You’re a God who makes things right,Psalm 103:5-6 (The Passion Translation)
Maria