Written 1yr ago..Winter
Just like melbourne's weather, four seasons in a day, this 3rd letter in the past 3 weeks is of WINTER. The first season was spring, which is the plowing and planting of gods words into our hearts. The second is autumn, the preparation for the coming season, bearing down to the bare essentials. All these seasons require energy, time and planning. Therefore God has made a season for us to rest, and that is winter!
Have you notice, after a long day at work, running from errands to errands, our physical bodies requires resting. Similarly, we can also feel our spiritual chalice running on empty during times of trials. The feeling of being burnt out, drowned in our thoughts of the daily events, and thinking to ourselves of the little time left to do something we like. Have you ever felt like this before? If you have dear brothers and sisters, you need rest!
First, I want to ask each of us, to think of how we define resting?
Personally i feel, to have a good rest, I need to travel somewhere. Take a vocation and plan some activities to keep me occupied during this time. Do something that i like. For instance, i remember last year, about this time when i joined caregroup. I took a trip to mount macedon and daylesford. To climb the mountains and bathe in spring water. Sounds relaxing isnt it? it is, if you take it just as that. On the road however, i went to magnetic hill, horse riding, farming, trekking etc. By the end of the day i was very exhausted. This is not the proper rest because i was more tired when i got back than i had left.
Let me clarify what resting is, it is not what we do, where we go, or the length of time we rest, but it a time of refreashment in body and spirit. It is a time to reflect on the past seasons and remember what God has done for us. It's about retreating from the world, and entering into fellowship with the living word, Jesus Christ. For Mark 6:30-31 says
"The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest"
It is also a time to plan what comes next in our lives and this requires reflection. Be careful when you think back to the past, don't get stuck there but learn from errors and look and plan ahead. God intends us to move forward and live in the present. First thing is, we need to get our compass bearing, reading our maps and charting our course right. Remember to include god in the planning at this time, better still, let him be your consultant.
Prov 16:9 "in his heart a man plans his course but the lord determines his steps"
And for those to whom feel guilty for taking the rest, remember that taking rest is not a sin. God himself made the seventh day, the sabbath day to rest. Exodus says 31:15 "the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, holy to the lord". The sabbath day was intended for two reasons, to take rest from our bustling lives at work and studies and to remember what God has done for us. It is time to pause what we are doing in our daily lives so that we will not forget the purpose of all our efforts and lose balance, this is crucial to a faithful life. So make a time for rest, god intends you to be performing at your potential.
So remember, when you are feeling tired and weary from work and studies, you need rest. You need to draw on gods words to restore your physical and spiritual health. Get a top up spiritually :)
A prayer
Heavenly father, i thankyou for the season of winter, the season to rest and recover from the tribulations. I pray for the restoration of us to yourself, that we may return and renew our days as of old. May the holy spirit replenish our lives with energy, freashness and faithfullness. May the plans for our lives be made clear to us during this period, that we can see what your will for us will be. I pray that we are able to find a balance between working and resting Lord. O God we call upon Jesus name to answer our prayers, Amen.
Point to ponder over
When was the last time you had rest?
And how will you find the time to rest?
Remember a season of seeming inactivity does not equate to inactivity!
