Have you ever thought about how truly busy we as a culture are? As my kids get older I realize that more and more things keep creeping in and those moments when I thought the days would never end and sometimes did laundry because I was bored while the kids were napping are long behind us and it is a fight to keep some time set aside to stop for a moment. Oddly enough sometimes I even feel guilty for carving out some sacred moments for us just to have nothing to do. How about you? Do you ever have that guilt over declining an invite or skipping out on being somewhere just so you can have some peace?
I would argue that for some of us especially in the younger generations we do not even really know what it means to truly rest. That is a scary but very true thought. We think of resting as having all the amenities of tv, phone, computers. ipods etc. You name it and as long as we have that we can "rest". The thing is Jesus had an idea of what rest was to look like and I think our picture of it is way off base. We don't like to think of rest as just being quiet and being alone and stripped down to the basics. That is scary. What happens in your mind when things are quiet and still? Do you have a hard time quieting those thoughts of you being lazy and unproductive?
This portion of the devotional brought up the idea that maybe we have a hard time resting in God's truth because it would mean in large part forfeiting OUR plans. We do not want to be so stilled that we hear what God is speaking into our hearts that would derail where we are headed. That we are too busy and too overworked and striving too hard. Resting means handing the reins over and losing my control. That is what a a lot of it boils down to. We think that we have the ultimate control over our schedules and lose sight of the fact that we have a creator that has a plan and a really good one at that if we will just listen. It's just hard to listen if we can't be still.
Open your bible to Luke 10:38-42 and read. Do you see some resemblances to your life? Which one are you....Mary or Martha?
See what Jesus has to say to Martha in verses 41-42. That verse puts me straight in my place and makes me pay attention.
It isn't that Martha was doing anything bad. In fact the things she did were good and fine but that doesn't change that there was something better that she could have been doing. Sitting and listening to Jesus should have taken priority. It is what was BEST at the moment. We all have those spaces in our lives where we could stand to lay down something that is good for something better or best.
An excerpt from the book:
Andrew Murray, a prolific minister in South Africa in the 19th century, wrote an entire book about abiding. In it he says this: "Ye are the branches-You need be nothing more. You need not for one single moment of the day take on the responsibility of the vine. You need not leave the place of entire dependence and unbounded confidence."
What speaks to you from this quote? Does it reinforce the idea that REST is important and crucial to abiding? As we wrap up this week I want to throw some challenges out there that we all have places and spaces to improve in this area. Take one area where you just really have a hard time letting go and instead of doing that each day take 5-10 minutes of that time and just sit on your couch or on your porch or wherever you feel at peace and just pray. Ask God to show you his will for your life. To direct you and to give you peace and guidance for decisions you have made or ones that need to be made soon.
I love this song Breathe by Jonny Diaz . Take a listen to the words. It nails what we are talking about and really resonates with me. I think if you just click the link it will take you to the you tube video.
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