I Thought I Was Retired!

Just wrote a few days ago about the lazy, hazy days of summer. Thought the living was going to be easy. Trying to remember, but I thought I was retired. Alas, be careful what you pray for. Working on keeping my mind alert and focused, I have grabbed hold of a few projects that have me swamped! What do you do when you are faced with multiple projects all at the same time and your computer decides it has a mind of its’ own? One thing I have come to realize, I can’t juggle evey thing at the same time anymore!

While we are still in the Word every day, inspiration is being crowded out by deadlines. I have a major presentation due at the end of this week. While not difficult, it is time consuming. Thus I am late in the evening at my computer trying to type out a fresh word! This word is not fresh, but its’ true – rest:

⁹ There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest…Hebrews 4: 9-11a (KJV)

There is a “rest” – for the people of God. Just as God did what He did in six days and then went into rest. So too, must we, do what we can do in an allotted time and then enter into the rest that only God can provide. Entering into God’s rest does not mean that we cease to work, it means that we ceased from our own works, allowing the Holy Spirit to work. Going to school for many, many years – working in schools for my career, set me up in a fast lane of doing papers, assignments, studying for tests; preparing lessons, grading exams, grading papers – it has always been a rush, rush – have to do this kind of life.

I am retired now – while I have committed myself to various projects, they should never be seen as a “have to“, but a “get to”. I get to allow my experience and gifting to flow through the operation of the Holy Spirit in my life. This begins with coming to a place of rest. Now the computer doesn’t understand this – YET… but since I am now lying down to rest, I am trusting the Holy Spirit to remind this machine that it is not in charge – and tomorrow when I arise from my rest, I expect it to function correctly, or Apple to give me an appointment – either way – the struggle is over!

Maria