The Power of Rest

 She lay in bed wide awake, her heart slamming in her chest. Her mind literally buzzed with activity. Should she even be in bed, she thought, with all the "yet-to-do" list she mentally tallied in her mind? Deadlines. Laundry. Family picture day with color coordinated clothes. Company coming for dinner. Re-painting the bathroom. A doctor's appointment for a long overdo mammogram. Getting packed for a quick getaway, and making lists for the house sitter. Getting her Sunday School lesson planned. The more she thought about it all, the more sleep eluded her. Why was she foolish enough to even think of sleeping when all of these responsibilities stretched before her? The more she thought, the shorter her breath felt. Was it a heart attack, or just anxiety? Would she even know if she were having a heart attack, or would she die because she ignored the signs, thinking it was just a panic attack?

                   "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden

                    and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

To some of you, this may sound ludicrous. Do sane people really think this way? The truth is, 18.9 % of Americans deal with anxiety every year. And nearly half of all Americans consider themselves to be modern-day workaholics. The average American worker works approximately 4 hours for free each week, and spends another 4 hours a week thinking and planning for work. Essentially, they are working an extra day a week without pay, and without much needed rest. Do you think the drive to overwork ourselves has an impact on anxiety and stress? I think that's a no-brainer there-absolutely! 

                   "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place

                    and rest a while (Mark 6:31)."

The best example of how to handle responsibilities and pressure is to look at Jesus. God the Father showed us the first example of the need for rest in Genesis when He created the Earth, and all living things. He worked for 6 days, but on the 7th day, God rested. He didn't spend that 7th day planning for the next day, or worrying about what He needed to do next. He didn't feel guilty about taking a day of rest, nor did He fill it up with social activities that led to further exhaustion-it simply said He rested. And we read of Jesus' real need of rest as well. From feeding thousands, to healing countless sick people, to answering the questions of those clever and trying to trap Him with His words, we can only imagine how tired and weary He often felt. Jesus was absolutely never lazy, but He did long for peace, rest, quiet and times of refreshment praying to the Father. Both God and His Son, Jesus, understood the importance and necessity of rest.

                 "My presence will go with you, and I will give you

                  rest (Exodus 33:14)."

We often boast about our many accomplishments and the work we do. We love to tell others how busy we are, and feel inadequate if we don't rattle off a list of waiting responsibilities. The busier we are, the more productive we feel others view us. But oftentimes, our busyness alienates us from God's true purpose in our lives-serving Him and serving others! If I'm too busy to hear His voice, then I'm too busy. If I'm working so much that I am not available to those with real needs, then I'm working too much. If I'm stressed and anxious, maybe I need to consider my workload. In the world, being a workaholic may have a ring to it that is acceptable, and even admired. But as a Christian, being a workaholic leaves little room for kingdom work-work that has eternal value and reward. 

                 "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O

                  LORD, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8)."

When we pour most of our lives into our careers, we are pouring short in areas that matter most:relationships and building up the kingdom of God. Have you been that person, laying in bed with a pounding heart as you contemplate your list of responsibilities? This isn't the way God has for us, and He, Himself, gave us the pattern of the need for rest and refreshment. No guilt. No shame. Just a real need to withdraw from our duties, and refresh our souls and bodies. May we follow the example He has set before us. And may we not pour most of our efforts into things that have no lasting value for eternity. Ask God today to help you better serve Him and re-evaluate your priorities, and when you do-be prepared for some much needed rest!

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for our constant pursuit of worldly gain in our careers and in our work, and for neglecting real rest. Our rest is necessary for our physical, emotional and spiritual health, and we often are unhealthy in these areas because we neglect rest. Help us follow the pattern set before us in scripture, and quiet our souls in sleep and fellowship with our Father. In Your name we pray, Amen!

Trading Jesus

     What's your dream? Your biggest life goal? Do you want to be successful? Do you want to be in the best possible physical shape? Do you want the highest position in your company-stopping at nothing along the ladder to the top? Would you love to be an Olympian? What motivates you, or possibly keeps you at up night? Do you have big plans and big aspirations for something specific in your future? Are you dedicated to making it happen each day of your life? Dreams are good. Aspirations are good. Goals are good. We should all have something we aspire for-we shouldn't stay stuck and become stagnant. But we need to be careful.
     Nearly half of all Americans classify themselves as workaholics. A workaholic is defined as someone who compulsively works long and hard hours. This person will work in place of needed sleep. They turn down social invitations in order to work beyond normal work hours. Some workaholics work because they enjoy their work, and others work because they feel compelled to work. Whatever the case may be, work is their priority.
     Athletes training for the Olympics will train on average, around 30 hours per week. This is only the physical part of their training-you must also take into account the focus put on calories and nutrition, as well as rest and recovery. The goal is a gold medal, and few will make it to the top. While my son didn't pursue Olympic aspirations, he did spend a large amount of time in high school swimming, training, swimming some more, and eating to optimize performance. Sports on any level require commitment in order to do well, and eat up large amounts of time. Being an Olympian isn't a bad life goal, but as with any other goal, it shouldn't be at the top of the list for a Christian.
     All of us wrestle with goals and dreams that vie for first place in our hearts. We may want to be rich and afford the things we wish for. We may want that big house on the lake and a nice boat to cruise around in. We may want the latest Tesla, with all the bells and whistles. We may want fame and wish our name was known across the world. We may aim for being President of the United States. We may spend hours and hours in the gym to have the perfect body. Whatever our dreams are, they should be secondary at best, to our love and devotion for Jesus Christ. And sadly, it's not the case if we were to be completely honest.
     Trading Jesus doesn't mean we would totally give Him up for something we are going after-it's as simple as allowing them to have more of our hearts than we give Him. It's an attitude of "I want ____, and I'm going after it with all of my being." We often spend most of our life chasing our dreams, and give the leftovers to God. In short, we are trading Him for the worldly desires of our hearts, disillusioned by the glitter of temporary satisfaction, in place of eternal reward. We are selling ourselves short for the present world we live in, in exchange for doing great things for our future in heaven.
     Whatever it is you're shooting for, put it in its proper perspective. Giving Jesus anything less than our first priority is essentially trading Him off for something of far less value. He deserves our primary place of service and devotion. He says in Matthew chapter 10 that if we love anyone more than we love Him, we aren't worthy of being His. The principle here is He has the place of preeminence in our lives. If we put the same energy we put into our life goals as we do in serving Him, what difference could we make for eternity? I'll be the first to admit that I'm often crowding out His place of priority and replacing it with things that will only satisfy in this temporary world. I can do better-how about you?  

But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33, ESV).
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Luke 12:34, ESV).
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24, ESV).
Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth (Colossians 3:2, ESV).

Dear heavenly Father, may we repent of anything we place ahead of our love and service to You. May we realize the sacrifice made for us to be called Your children, and may we store up treasures in heaven-not exchanging them for temporary applause and gratification. In Your name we pray, Amen!

    

Balancing Faith and Preparation

     She was sick, and getting sicker by the day. As she awaited news from the doctor about her diagnosis, she worried. How would they pay for treatment? Would they lose everything they had worked for after so many decades of making a secure life for their family? Would they have to file bankruptcy in order for her to receive treatment if the diagnosis was indeed cancer? For most of her life, they talked about faith, and how God would take care of them no matter what happened. And so insurance seemed like a joke- a display of trusting in an insurance company, and not God. Until now. Now, she wasn't so sure.
     This scenario plays out in many various ways, but the same principle holds true- faith without preparation. I am a firm believer in faith, and know that God can do the impossible. In fact, He has done the impossible for me many times over, so I've personally experienced the truth of it. That said, I also firmly believe that God wants us to prepare with good sense. We should be responsible with what He has entrusted us with, and make choices that will help us when we are in trouble. 
     The situation our world is facing right now is one that calls us to both faith, and preparedness. Faith that God is in control, and always has been. Faith that He will is my Helper and Friend. Faith that He will work all things out for good- because scripture promises us this. But we also want to be prepared. Being prepared doesn't necessarily mean we buy all the toilet paper, but it is wise to make preparations for the unknown circumstances of our immediate future. And it always helps to know that while the future isn't known by us, it is known by Him. And so we have this constant balance of faith and preparation- a mix that gives security to our families, and a hope to the anxious soul. 
     This situation made me think of the Israelites, and how they faced the same balance. The Lord provided for their daily needs in the wilderness by giving them fresh manna each day (a small, round, white substance they used to bake bread). They were to only collect what they needed for that day, yet some of them felt greedy and lacked faith that He would provide the next day, so they took more than their share. What happened to the excess? It rotted, and was useless. Their disobedience to gather more than they needed ended up in a smelly basket of rotten manna. Did God want them to prepare? Yes, but He also wanted them to obey and trust Him to provide for their needs the next day as well.
     The purpose of this post isn't to scold anyone for buying more than our daily needs, but rather to remind us of the importance of both preparing for the future, and believing that God is in control. 100 rolls of toilet paper won't eliminate the fact that I still need God. We can, and should prepare, but we still need God every second of every day. Whether we are in times of plenty, or leaner times, God wants us to trust Him- yet all while being wise. This is true in our marriages, our careers, our home life, our parenting- every single sphere! So while this virus can cause us to feel uncertain and fearful, we can choose to push away the fear and allow our faith to lead us to a better place. We will do what we can to prepare for tomorrow, trusting that God will be there, just as He's here today. And sometimes, this is just the faith exercise that I need to remember Who He is, and witness His great power in not only my own life, but the whole world. 

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 (ESV)
That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5 (ESV)
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

Dear heavenly Father, we thank You for providing for us, and for seeing to our needs. We ask for forgiveness for our oftentimes lack of faith, and pray that even in this time, our faith would be increased. May we not only witness Your power, but may others see it in me. In Your name we pray, Amen!

Facing Life with Courage

     Honestly, I love the word courageous, and all that it means, but it's not a word that often fits my character. Me and the struggle with being courageous go way back. From being a tiny toddler, terrified of being plopped on top of the fridge, to being scared of the starter gun while running on the school track, to being afraid of the dark, I've often fallen short of bravery. I want to be courageous, but I often allow fear to spoil it. 
     As we forge ahead into 2020, I pray for more courage- for you, and for me. Life can be scary. Situations unsettling. Circumstances impossible! What unexpected bends in the road are you currently facing? Is your career in jeopardy? Do you have a sickness that causes you worry? Troubling kids?Financial challenges also are very unsettling, bringing their own set of fear and doubt. Is your marriage in trouble? Often, those who have walked through an affair, like me, have their own set of worries. Satan longs to use these to weaken our faith and zap our courage. So many life situations can make us feel stressed and fearful, far from courageous- even as Christians. 
     God doesn't want us to live in a state of worry and fear, yet I often drag myself into exactly that. While He understands our feelings, but He doesn't want us to allow circumstances to diminish our faith in Him. Instead, He wants us to recognize His ability to handle our problems allowing us to live courageously and boldly! Worry and stress have always plagued me. I would love to be known by my unshakeable faith, but in reality, I'm often anxious. Yet looking back over my life, I can see examples of how God walked me through some very trying circumstances. He didn't allow them to destroy me, but rather to challenge and grow me. That, alone should give me courage for anything that is ahead.
     What if we were given the ability to know what would happen in the future? Would it cause us less fear, having the unknown removed? Would I be braver? I would imagine that wouldn't be the case- instead, we would often live our days in dread of what's ahead. God, in His mercy, spared us from knowing future happenings; instead, calling us to faith. Faith that whatever lies ahead, He knows about it all, and is able to meet our needs. When we exercise true faith in our Father, our courage is bolstered. We can push away the stress and anxieties of today, knowing they are all in His capable hands. 
     Today, I am grappling with my own set of fears and worries, and I bet you have your own list of them. God is working in my heart to remove these burdens, reminding me that He is an Overcomer. And because I am God's child, He can overcome what I cannot. While I am a person that likes to be prepared for what is ahead, the best way I can do this is to recall His promises to me. He has promised that no matter what I am called to, He will meet me there. And so as I write this, I ask for courage to simply surrender to His control, knowing He is fighting my battles for me. 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)
For God gave us not a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

Dear heavenly Father, open my heart and my hands to Your control, and ease my worries and stress. Life has its uncertainties, but we can be sure of Your ability to work in them, and through them. Father I pray for a greater courage, and a deeper faith, knowing You alone are best in the driver's seat of my life. In Your name, we pray Jesus, Amen!

     

Emergency Plans

     Driving down the road today, I saw a billboard that spoke to me. Not really for what it was intended for, but it stood out all the same. I was driving to Hobby Lobby, (because who doesn't just love that store?), when I saw a sign urging us to have an emergency plan in place. The sign simply said : Don't wait. Communicate! Make your emergency plan. The sign featured a home in ruins, likely from storm or fire damage. It's a very practical call to speak with our families about safety plans before disaster strikes. What a great reminder, and one we should follow. I found this sign to be important and relevant- but my mind went to storms that are not as physical in nature.
     American families today are the busiest they've ever been. Our kids play sports. Travel teams are all the rage- we want them to have the best training, but there is a cost. They dance. They play piano. We run them to gymnastics. There are countless school events we must attend. Social media wars for our attention. Many families have both parents working- building our careers demands time. Church responsibilities are important, and we try to attend each service or event. Dinner tables, with all family members present, are few and far between. We shove a million little things into each day, then collapse at the end; exhausted and disconnected from the most important things- our marriages, our families, and God. We simply don't have time anymore, and it's a heartbreaking trend.
     People have asked me, "Ruth, what led to the breakdown of your marriage? What went wrong?" One of the most painful and surprising answers is this- we simply were too busy to properly communicate. This causes a disconnect that is easy to miss at first, but becomes increasingly dangerous over time. Can I urge you, dear friends and readers- invest in your families, invest in your children, but never at the expense of your marriage. It is vital to allow open spaces of time to just enjoy the company of your spouse. This is impossible if you cram your day full of activity.
     If you're like the average American, you're likely swamped. You don't really have the time to enjoy with your spouse, the way you should. It sounds nice, but where can you squeeze that into your already full schedule? If there is one lesson my husband and I have learned in this phase of a restored marriage, it's learning to say no. We don't have to do everything. We don't need to be everywhere, at everything. Our kids don't have to do all the things. But what we do need, is to preserve "us". If we allow our communication to suffer, our marriage will suffer. So today, make an emergency plan. You don't want to be like that picture of a house destroyed. Today, in this moment, take every step possible to communicate regularly with your spouse and your children. Satan wishes to begin the process of destruction in our marriages- in fact, he may have already started with yours. What will you do about it? Don't turn a blind eye, and refuse to acknowledge the war against us. Say no. Stay home. Sit down together and just talk. Say, "I love you". Touch one another. Tear down the walls that you've built up from over-committing. It's war- one you can win, with God's help, and a simple plan to be available and engaged in one another's lives.  

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 ESV
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV
Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. Proverbs 23:4 ESV

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive us for allowing so much into our lives, that we are putting our marriages, family and our relationship with You, in jeopardy. Equip us with the will to say "no", and invest in what really matters. Thank You, Father, for giving us our families, but give us wisdom in what we allow in them. It's so easy to fall into the trap Satan has laid out for our relationships, and find ourselves empty, dissatisfied and disconnected. Open our eyes, Lord, and may we really see the cost of our choices. In Your precious name we pray, Amen!