Ponderings for Lent: Rest

Services

Sunday - 9:15 AM Sunday School, 10:30 AM Worship Service

by: Denise Robinson

03/20/2023

0

Our first word for this week is "rest." Lent is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal, and one of the ways we renew our hearts and minds and faith is through rest. One of the ways we can draw closer to God is by focusing on our need for spiritual "rest." Rest is one of those words, as used in the Bible, that has a range of meanings as used in differing contexts, but at its core it's an invitation to trust in God and find peace in God's presence. When we rest in God, we acknowledge that God is in control and is our only source for true comfort and completeness. 
In the Old Testament, rest is often associated with the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship set aside by God for God's people. But it was always about more than a day off work; it was meant to be a day of focus on one's relationship with God. In Psalm 23, David writes that God leads him beside still waters and makes him lie down in green pastures as God, the shepherd, watches over him. At he lies down to rest, God meets his needs and keeps him safe.
The New Testament speaks of rest in a slightly different way. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites all those who are burdened and tried to come to him and find rest. This kind of rest isn't physical but spiritual. It's the rest that comes when we surrender our lives to Jesus and trust in him completely. It's the rest that comes when we stop trying to earn God's love and instead accept the free gift of God's grace. It's the rest that comes when we let go of our fears and trust in God's plan for our lives,
Lent is a good time to step back - to rest - and to examine our lives and our priorities. If we wait until we "have time," we will never have the time. Rest is a gift from God, and a time to listen for God's voice. When you're dealing with the daily stresses of life or facing some deep struggle, rest is an essential part of your journey toward wholeness and healing. As you think about your day, can you give God - and yourself - a time of rest?
Blog comments will be sent to the moderator
Our first word for this week is "rest." Lent is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal, and one of the ways we renew our hearts and minds and faith is through rest. One of the ways we can draw closer to God is by focusing on our need for spiritual "rest." Rest is one of those words, as used in the Bible, that has a range of meanings as used in differing contexts, but at its core it's an invitation to trust in God and find peace in God's presence. When we rest in God, we acknowledge that God is in control and is our only source for true comfort and completeness. 
In the Old Testament, rest is often associated with the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship set aside by God for God's people. But it was always about more than a day off work; it was meant to be a day of focus on one's relationship with God. In Psalm 23, David writes that God leads him beside still waters and makes him lie down in green pastures as God, the shepherd, watches over him. At he lies down to rest, God meets his needs and keeps him safe.
The New Testament speaks of rest in a slightly different way. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus invites all those who are burdened and tried to come to him and find rest. This kind of rest isn't physical but spiritual. It's the rest that comes when we surrender our lives to Jesus and trust in him completely. It's the rest that comes when we stop trying to earn God's love and instead accept the free gift of God's grace. It's the rest that comes when we let go of our fears and trust in God's plan for our lives,
Lent is a good time to step back - to rest - and to examine our lives and our priorities. If we wait until we "have time," we will never have the time. Rest is a gift from God, and a time to listen for God's voice. When you're dealing with the daily stresses of life or facing some deep struggle, rest is an essential part of your journey toward wholeness and healing. As you think about your day, can you give God - and yourself - a time of rest?
cancel save

0 Comments on this post:

write a comment
post comment cancel