Here are 5 short stack thoughts on rest that I’ve posted on social media in the past few weeks.
1. No Scarcity with God
One of the reasons we are resistant to resting in God is because we don’t believe in his fullness. If I really believed he is and has everything I need — that there is no scarcity with God — I wouldn’t try all my other options first. Not only in physical rest (Sabbaths) but emotional and spiritual and mental rest.
When Jesus invited us to rest in him, abide in him, he did so out of the abundance of who he is—an everlasting, not going anywhere, can’t be depleted, abundance. All we have to do is say yes!
So, Jesus, today I say yes to you in this way. I want to rest in you. Help my unbelief. What you provide is exactly what I need! Amen.
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2. ReCreation
Rest is a principle the Bible keeps bringing up. One of the reasons it is a habit worth making and maintaining is because it has creative elements. Resting isn’t a mindless check-out. (although there is a time for that, too.) Rest is recreation. That is, Re-creating. It is a time we set apart so the Creator can renew our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
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3. His Yoke
It’s interesting that a verse all about rest contains three get-off-your-rump verbs. COME to me … TAKE my yoke … LEARN from me. (Matthew 11:28-30) Resting in Jesus is a choice of trust we make. But the invitation extended to us isn’t risky. Actually, it’s a done deal. Jesus has taken the government upon his shoulders, so the yoke is easy. The responsibility of provision is covered by him, so the burden is light. All we have to do is join up and rest. And when we do, we learn how he interacts with the earth — his stride in conflict, his strength in injustice, his pace in chaos, his passion for people. No matter what is in front of us, his leadership is walking us through it.
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4. Breath Prayers
Breath prayers are a simple way to infuse rest throughout your day.
Inhale, exhale a name of god
Inhale, exhale something you’re thankful for
Inhale, exhale a worry to the Lord
Inhale, exhale a praise
Inhale, exhale a scripture
Easy peasy, short and sweet, petite and powerful.
Take a breather and reset, refocus.
For example
Inhale, Abba!
Inhale, thank you for your peace, Jesus
Inhale, I give this deadline to you
Inhale, you’re faithful through the ages
Inhale, better is one day in your courts
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5. 6 Ways to Guard Your Rest Day
Everybody and everything wants a piece of your rest day. It’s up to you to guard it like the last piece of chocolate cake on earth.
- Put your rest day on your calendar, AND set a reminder or two. If your rest day is the same each week, put it on repeat. If your schedule rotates, plan your rest days in advance and get them on the calendar. Calendars are helpful!
- Enable Do Not Disturb OR Buy a burner phone for rest days. Our phones are often the biggest obstacle to rest days. Pick the option that fits your lifestyle. Emergency contact notifications will bypass DND settings. Burner phone numbers can be given out to trusted family members.
- Define what an emergency is to you. Everything else can wait. For example, emergencies for me have to involve a family member or a shortlist of close friends. Also, let friends and co-workers know that it’s your rest day. Good friends will give you space.
- Have a response ready to guard your rest day. Examples: I’m sorry, I can’t on Saturday. Could we do Thursday instead? I’m unavailable that day, what about next week? I’d love to meet for lunch. Here are some good times for me. These responses aren’t mean or defensive. They are good ways to communicate.
- Plan your rest day activities — even if it’s staying in your pajamas for a movie marathon. Thinking about your rest day creates excitement around it and guards against being hijacked by work. So jot down a few ideas—read, hike, shoe shop, make the dessert I saw in a magazine, etc.
- Keep a pad and pencil handy. It’s amusing how many to-do items will bombard your thoughts when you slow down for a day, and they will all feel urgent. Write those thoughts down for another day. This way, you can remember them and won’t get tricked out of a rest day.
Make space for resting and protect it like the treasure that it is. You need it, your family needs it, your ability to work needs it.
Brave Sparrow 