Rest and Weariness
I have a study book I am using from Anne Graham Lotz. During this week in August, the study is focused on resting. God set aside a time to rest. He gave us the example when creation was formed. It was what He did on the seventh day. The day was to be set aside, and He called it Holy. I wrote one of the early newsletters on this topic. I also included a chapter in my book “Living Victoriously in Health and Wholeness” for the benefits of rest. Rest is beneficial to the body, to the mind and to the spirit. God knows best. He had the best in mind for us when He declared the day as Holy. Unfortunately, we have neglected this practice. Some have to work on Sunday, but it isn’t a “Sunday” Sabbath but a day of Sabbath. For the ones who work on Sunday, do they take another day and rest or continue on working?
The scriptures that Anne used to fortify the reason for rest, Exodus 23:12 spoke most clearly to me. It referred to not only the benefit of resting for the one taking the Sabbath, but also for those that help. The donkey and the ox rest, the servants rest if one takes a Sabbath. The reason this stood out is the idea of gathering in a restaurant for the Sunday dinner. When I was growing up, we ate at home after church. I can remember coming home and smelling the roast beef cooking in the oven. I would walk in the door and the smell made my mouth water. I couldn’t wait to sit down and eat the wonderful meal my Mom had prepared before she left for church. My Mom worked hard that morning to prepare the meal. My sisters and I worked hard after the meal to clean up. Then we all rested in some form or fashion.
Rest is a great way to combat weariness. God did not create us to be weary. He wants us to rest in Him, to bring our burdens to Him, and to live in abundance. I believe the abundance is not a material benefit but a spiritual benefit. I believe if we do as we are instructed and keep the commands that He put forth, we will have the abundance of energy needed to be the hands and feet that He created us to be. He is an amazing God. He loves us so much that He gave us a day of rest. Hallelujah – we are called to rest!
Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12
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