Rest

For all of us there comes a time when we just need to take a time out and rest. Our lives are hectic, busy, stressful and just plain tiring. It is important to listen to our bodies, and I'm not just talking about physical rest, but emotional rest as well. For the past few weeks I have known that I need a respite from the rigors of seminary life. Yet, I was not able to get the respite that I need, there is too much going on in life that prevented it. I had too many demands on my time.

Well, the weekend is finally here and I am excited to say that my schedule is free and I get to use it by driving down to visit some family and friends that live a few hours away. I'm looking forward to all aspects of the trip. The time alone in the car will be great. It will be 3 hours (each way) where it is just me and God. I love those times, I feel worshipful, loved and it gives me a chance to really open up my heart to my Savior. These times are precious to me. Then, while I'm in the city I will be with people that I'm comfortable with and that I really enjoy being around. It should be a time of great spiritual and emotional refreshment.

We all owe it to ourselves and to our friends and family to take these times of refreshment once in awhile. The more refreshed and alive we are spiritually and emotionally the better we will be able to go about our daily lives. We are designed to need these times of renewal. The creation account sets this out for us. The Bible tells us that God rested. God was not tired, because He is incapable as the Father to be tired (Jesus did get tired while here on earth, but that was because as God He chose to limit Himself to experience full humanness). God rested to show us humans that we need to rest.

For me this weekend I am not going to be just lazing around. I am going to be doing things, but it will be a comfortable setting with comfortable people. Rest does not have to be sitting in a hammock drinking "lemonade", but it can be. Rest is anything where you come away feeling revitalized and ready to take on each day's challenges.

So while I'm "resting" I will be praying that each of you can carve out some time (in the near future) for yourselves as well. Have a blessed weekend.

-JLK/PRT-