Today is a Five Minute Friday where I join hundreds of other writers RIGHT HERE using a single word in a 5 minute prompt. This week, Lisa Jo invites us to write about “REST.”
REST – all elusive rest. Rested bodies? Rested souls? Every single one of us in this sleep-deprived world must have rested bodies to survive and thrive. A good night’s sleep is so precious. How many times do we say, “did you rest well?” And how many commercials do we see about sleeping pills… But these next few moments I want to focus on something that is even more elusive – SOUL REST. Many people would give up sleep to have SOUL REST. Peace of mind and heart.
I’ve been a pastor’s wife for 35 years and I’ve served in women’s ministry for 15 years. One of the things I’ve seen that keeps us from SOUL REST is the captivity of activity. God gave me an acrostic years ago that I’ve shared when given the chance to speak at women’s events…it is R-E-S-T. So when I saw the prompt today it immediately came to my heart.
R – Relationship
We absolutely must have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the only One who can give you rest of soul. For years I struggled with this one until finally giving up my goodness for His free gift of salvation. My story is HERE.
E – Encouragement
One of the ways to find soul rest is to focus on another person in need and really be an encouragement to them. It always works for me. I get my mind off myself and onto someone else.
S – Simplicity
In this fast-based world many long for simplicity. I especially think of my favorite old show from the 1980s – Little House on the Prairie. Now we don’t have to go back that far…but we can KISS our lives with this truth: “Keep It Simple Sister.” Everything doesn’t have to be homemade…
T – Time
Time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word will provide the best SOUL REST. These two gifts – prayer and His Word are vital to us as we sojourn.
Get some REST this weekend friends. A little nap on the sofa and then some good SOUL REST too. Remember that God is in control, breathe deeply, and REST in the knowledge that God is awake. All the time. And He has everything in His Hands. Isaiah 40:28-31:
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Resting in Him,
GranJan
Jan, this is so good…and a word that is so desperately needed in our world today. In my new Bible study (HeBrews:A Better Blend) I talk about rest and give some stats on rest that I found on the internet. Yikes! It is frightening how deprived we are of physical rest..as a nation. In the Bible study I go on to talk about resting from our efforts to ‘save’ ourselves and how Jesus has already done all the necessary work. I fear many Christians still strive to ‘be accepted’ when in fact, we already are through the blood of Jesus.
Absolutely awesome. I loved reading your post on Rest. So glad that I stopped by.