Mark 6:30-32 NIV ~ “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. [31] Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” [32] So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”
In today’s fast paced world, rest has become a lost art, you are always so busy, and you spend less and less time resting. But now is the time for you to stop and rest! God has caused everything to come to a halt just for you to rest! He knew that you were not going to stop on your own. He needed to assist you in stopping to rest!
You see your day starts at the dawn of sunrise and you extend your energy throughout the day till late at night, until you can see the moonlight. Sometimes it is almost a new day before you collapse for a few minutes until it’s time to get up and do the same thing all over again with little or no rest! And you are wonder why you are so tired, you didn’t allow yourself one minute to come up for air and breathe, and now you feel guilty about wanting to stop, so you don’t stop, until God interrupts you!
God knows you, and instead of you slowing down, you will speed up and move even faster, and you believe that you only need a few hours of rest here and there! But I’ve come to tell you that you need to pull away to a desert place and spend some alone time with your Heavenly Father who misses you! Get yourself to a quiet place. A place in the wilderness, free of distractions, and let’s be clear, it’s not a wasted place but an isolated place, where you can pray!
I have a question for you, where does rest fit in your plans with all the things that you have to do everyday family, work, ministry and the list goes on and on? When Jesus sent His disciples out, He didn’t stop or shield them from all of life’s changes, ministry, work, challenges, circumstances, issues and disappointments, however He told them, not asked if they wanted to rest, He commanded them, to pull away to a secluded place, away from everyone and everything where they could spend time with Him to be refueled and rejuvenated, they had to rest so that they could continue on with their journey and ministry that they were called to do! I can hear God saying the same thing to you right now, You Need to Rest!
I know that you have been through a lot lately, and you think you have it all together, but there is more to do and you have to rest so that God can continue to prepare you for the more that remains to be done! but God said this, Matthew 11:28 (“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”) And right now, it’s time for you to rest and not feel guilty for taking a minute to regroup and recharge!
I want you to know that your regular routine is being interrupted and you can’t do business as usual. It’s Rest Time! So, I want you to embrace this moment, arise into this new day that God has given you, take a moment and bask in His sun or dance in the rain, He made both of them for you to enjoy, read His Word outside and look at all of His splendor, watch a bird soar or listen to them sing, smell the flowers, walk barefoot in the grass, drink a cup of coffee or tea, sit quietly in His Presence and listen to what He’s saying to you, and listen to understand what He’s saying, and do not respond with what you want from Him! God created this world in six days and then He rested, so you need rest too! Genesis 2:2 ~ “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
Today, and throughout the rest of this month spend time nurturing your most important relationship, the one with your Heavenly Father, say yes to Him and His Ways and say no to everything else. Your mind, body and soul need to be refreshed, refueled, recharged, restored, rejuvenated, revived and renewed by His Holy Spirit. And the only way that you can continue growing, moving and serving is to be whole, healthy, and disciplined. So, you have to spend quality time alone with God, surrendering the life He gave you, back to Him, you have to do the submitting, He is not going to force Himself on you. Surrender to submit, this will bring Glory to your Father! Jesus told you to do it, it’s for your good and His Glory!
Let’s Pray:
Father, Thank You for the true gift of embracing rest! Father, I pray that while I rest, You will create in me a clean heart, strengthen me and give me the capacity of endurance for my journey. Father, Thank You for You! Father, I choose You and all that You are doing in and for me during this time of rest. I pray that my mind and body receive strength and that Your peace encompasses all of me. Father, during my time of rest please remove everything from me that’s not like You, purge and purify me as You prepare me for my next level! May my faith and wisdom increase as I spend time in Your Presence. Father, help me to be strong, healthy and disciplined as I do what You have called me to do. And Father, when You command me to pull away and rest, that I will be obedient and that You will fill me with more love, joy, peace, and wisdom. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Blessings…
Minister Jean
