Rest!

I recently helped PREPARE – plan, organize, gear up for, a huge Bookstore at a major conference of 5500 women at a convention center. Then, I helped IMPLEMENT the event – whew, it was busy, stressful, there was very little sleep, we worked hard mentally and physically! Finally, it was time to REST. I felt I needed to recover physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Life is a constant cycle! PREPARATION………IMPLEMENTATION………..RECOVERY. We prepare/plan/gear up/study for a BIG EVENT (or big test, game, conference)………IMPLEMENT the event, test, game, conference………Then come down/recover/evaluate/REST! 

 

R – Relax, renew, recover.

Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

 

After a stressful, hard driving time of IMPLEMENTING the eventful times of life, we must REST. It’s important to relax the pace……sleep…….go on a trip……sleep some more! Sometimes I feel guilty when I rest. This feeling has become a part of our western culture, and has seeped into our churches. Ministry wives often feel that they must keep on going, keep on giving because it is expected of them. Yet this is not biblical; it is cultural! I have this drive in me to ALWAYS be productive. Yet after an intense, stressful time my JOB is to REST! God created us in his image. Our bodies are made to rest, as He rested.

 

As God gave us the Sabbath, I should take a Sabbath in my week, not necessarily on Sunday. I can build this resting time into my schedule, plan for it, and do it!

 

E – Energize

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

 

I need to be re-energized – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. After my huge Bookstore experience I was so exhausted! I had nothing left in me, nothing left to give. As I began to rest, the energy slowly flowed back into my body. Slowly, I could begin to think, move, and feel better. God began to renew my strength.

My spiritual life must be re-energized as well as my physical. After periods of heavily giving of myself I must re-energize my relationship with Christ. After periods of dryness, God will renew refresh and revive my closeness to him as I say “yes” to him.

 

S – Stop!

Psalm 23:2-3

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

 

We get on a merry-go-round that’s going too fast. Then we get indicators – no clean socks, no bread, no milk, I haven’t spent time with my husband and kids. I haven’t spent good time with God! It is time to say “STOP, I’m going too fast. I’ve gotta’ get off”. I must STOP on a regular basis, spend time alone with God, listen to his voice. I allow him to renew, refocus, recharge me.

When I look at rest as a gift, not an expectation or something that I deserve, then I cherish the time. A quiet moment, a refreshing walk, a cup of tea and a good book. My soul is replenished as I STOP to listen to God’s voice.

 

T – Time

Isaiah 28:29 

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

 

But how do I find TIME for rest and refreshing? I decided to make a list of 15 minute refreshers, things I can do when an opportunity comes up:

• Keep a small Bible in my bag so I can read and pray
• Keep a book in my car so I can let my mind go from my stress for a few minutes
• Keep a tea bag in my purse so I can heat some water and relax with a cup of tea
• Keep a Star Bucks card(or Tim Hortons in Canada ) in my purse
• Keep pictures on my phone so that I can flip through and pray for people that are important to me

My life must continue this cycle and establish a rhythm: GIVE…..REFILL……GIVE…..REFILL. I must prepare, give of myself in significant ways, then I must REST! I have been called to serve, love others, share my faith, help my husband be successful, raise my children, mentor younger women. All of these take TIME to prepare, gear up, implement big events and significant happenings. Then after the intense time, I must take TIME to rest!

Rest my friends!  You will be glad that you did and the Father is waiting!  Now you make your own list! How can you watch for TIMES of rest and relaxing? Meet me in the forums or the devotionals and post your comments!

 

Melanie has had Church Planter Wives on her heart for many years. She was part of a new church start during her years in seminary, then she helped her husband start a new church in the 90’s. Since then she has been encouraging, coaching and training new Church Planter Wives. Melanie and her husband, Dan, are excited that God led them to Canada in 2010, where Dan is the professor of Church Planting at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary near Calgary, Alberta. Melanie is working with the Canadian National Baptist Convention to encourage and coach ministry wives and Church Planter Wives. She speaks for women’s groups, and travels to help train, connect and coach ministry wives. Melanie and Dan have 4 young adult children (and one daughter-in-law) who are scattered across the US. It’s always a joy visit them!