Are You Getting Enough Rest?

Scripture

Hebrews 4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day.  9 So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God;  10 for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his.  11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

Observation

The ultimate sabbath rest is to be with the Lord for all of eternity. Joshua ordered the people to experience a sabbath rest. This rest from human labor here on earth was to be a foretaste of eternal rest. The promise of an eternal sabbath awaits the people of God who serve him in obedience. In the meantime, practicing and living sabbath can lead us into eternal rest.

Application

I’ve been doing a bit of study and reading lately about the need for rest — real, true, physical rest. Studies are showing that people are not getting enough rest. We don’t slow down long enough to sleep as many hours as our body needs to function properly. The result is that we are tired, irritable, unable to concentrate and physically ill. I have been convicted that as a Christ-follower, it is important to care for myself physically, and this includes getting enough rest.

When I evaluate those things which may be keeping me from my rest they don’t seem that important. I may be on my computer, mindlessly flipping through the news, or the weather, or Facebook and suddenly time has passed. Or, I may be watching television, or even just staying up too late working! At some point we have to stop it all and enter into rest.

Learning to enter into rest now becomes a foretaste of eternal rest. When I put it all away and I get enough sleep, I’m able to cope better with everything. When I put all the stuff away and spend quiet time in God’s presence, my batteries are recharged and I realize I don’t have to do all of this on my own, but I do have to follow him in the ways in which he is leading. If I don’t take my rest, I keep on charging ahead without his leading — expecting God to follow where I’m going!

Practicing rest isn’t easy in our frenzied world…and it is a frenzied world! We have too much stimulation and technology is providing us with more than our brains can handle. If we are to survive, we need to unplug. Yes, God knew what he was talking about — his people need a sabbath rest. We have to be intentional about taking time away and turning it all off.

The question for today is — are you getting enough rest?

Prayer

Lord, please help me to make rest and recharging a priority. I need you and your strength and leading. Amen.

Thank you to Nazarene Publishing House and Keri Mitchell for helping to create and publish Reflecting the Image. This is not a devotional book, but rather a collection of thoughts and stories which lead us in the direction of reflecting Christ. Click on the image to take you to the NPH bookstore.