Good Morning and Happy Monday!

The weekend just flew by! I think I got swept up by the beautiful weather and sights and sounds of the coming summer. It was all so engaging that time just seemed to vanish. I hope you were enchanted amid all the loveliness and created some time to replenish. Many are noticing the exhaustion that comes with online meetings and balancing work and personal life at home. This type of fatigue is all the more reason to protect our self-care and times of relaxation.

An unknown author pens our quote this week. The significance of the words impacts those of us who feel the need to utilize every waking moment for activities we deem necessary. Of course, this thought begs the question, are they essential. We find that sometimes we do need permission to pause for refreshment.

In one section of Mark Buchanan’s book, The Rest of God – Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath, he references twins when describing rest. The author notes that there are two ways we learn that rest is imperative. The first is in Exodus, where Sabbath is part how God shows us the underlying importance of rest. It’s not because He needs it, but because we do. Buchanan writes we’re “imitating God so that we stop trying to be God” and that “without proper care, we break” (p.87). It’s His way of showing us our continuing need for Him.

The second example is in Deuteronomy, where Sabbath rest represents part of our liberation from the things that enslave us. Buchanan reminds us that we’re not to “revive what God has removed” (p.89). He further writes, “refusal to rest amounts to: living as though the taskmasters still hover and glower, ready to thrash us for the smallest sign of slowing down…to strive and toil as if we have no choice.” (p.90). Now, however, the taskmasters are often in our minds demanding, shaming, warning, and worrying, filling us with lies about our worth.

Following are the verses from Scripture that reflect the preceding comments:

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

Exodus 20:11 (NKJV)

“And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore, the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”

Deuteronomy 5:15 (NKJV) We might consider adding intentionality to our times of rest. Perhaps we need to reevaluate our work-to-life ratio and then permit ourselves to spend some treasured time in a mindful activity. Maybe we need to take a break from a very active thought life and the pressures of the current situation with family game time or physical activity. We may find rest in the arts by listening to music, painting, or crafting. Engage in whatever activities cause us to pause and remember the importance of Sabbath rest. Our time of refreshment is not only useful for better productivity in the coming week, but necessary in protecting ourselves in the areas of emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda