How can you make space to rest?
March 27 - March 31, 2023 | Always Peachy Devotionals | Rest Week 1
Can you believe it’s the last week of March?
Not even just the last week of March. It’s the end of the first quarter of 2023! How is that even possible? I thought the winter time was supposed to go slowly, but this has flown faster than any other Q1 I’ve ever survived.
I hope the first three months of your year have been fruitful and full of wonderful answers to prayer. And if they haven’t, take heart, my friends. God is still walking with you, and He hasn’t given up. So you shouldn’t either.
This month’s study of REST has been such a challenge for me personally. Rest is something I have always pushed back against, usually because I believed I needed to accomplish a certain number of things in order to be considered successful. Well, that was a lie.
God loves me no matter how much I get done in a day. He has wonderful plans for me even if I went over my grocery budget this month. He wants to help me accomplish mighty miracles in His name, even though I overslept yesterday.
You don’t have to perform for God. So chill out. Take a break. Rest in His love, in the security of His faithfulness, and stop trying to impress Him. The only real way to impress God is through your faith, and the best way to do that is to trust that He’ll take care of you when you aren’t working.
So far in this study, we’ve defined what Sabbath Rest is, and then we’ve talked about why it matters to God and why it should matter to us. This week we’re getting practical. For the rest of the month of March, we’re going to talk about how you can make space for rest.
March 27 - Go God’s way, not your own
March 28 - Follow God’s priorities
March 29 - Remember your value
March 30 - Be honest with yourself
March 31 - Ask God for wisdom
One of the characteristics of who God is that I love the most is His practicality. There is nothing He has asked us to do that He won’t help us learn how to do. He will always show up and guide us when we ask Him for help, whether it’s in person or through someone else who is obeying Him. Don’t just assume you won’t be able to accomplish something or learn something; ask for help.
The idea of rest is so important to God. It shows up all throughout the Bible, in nearly every situation. God wants us to rely on Him, to stop striving to do everything on our own power and strength. Our own power and strength isn’t enough, but it’s our choice to rest or not. That’s what we learn from our memory verse this week, Hebrews 4:10-11.
Rest is a choice. God won’t make us do it. And He isn’t going to strike us with lightning or a plague if we don’t do it. But the consequences of disobeying God will always visit you, and disregarding the Sabbath will lead you down a path of burnout. Take it from someone who has burned out several times: It’s a lot harder to come back from it once you’ve burned out.
Do your best to rest. Do your best to obey Him, not just sacrifice to Him. Obeying God’s Word means doing what it says, even if that means taking a nap.
Know what? A nap actually sounds amazing. I think I’ll go do that right now. How about you?
Love you all more than words can say. Have a blessed, restful week!
Amy
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