Rest for our souls

“Let go/relax and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

~~ Psalm 46:10 NASB

Life seems to go flying by at the speed of light. We seek to cram everything into a day that we feel is needed that day, pushing off until the next day what we didn’t finish.

“I got this,” we repeat to ourselves and others. Though it may appear to everyone watching that we do have it, we don’t – do we?

Read the above verse’s first line slowly.

Let’s purposely s l o w   d o w n.

Be still.

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We are souls with a body. Not bodies with a soul.

Our souls cannot find peace when we are in a hurry, with chaos grabbing us by the shoulders and heaving us in its midst, leaving us often overwhelmed, spent, and even broken.

Slow down enough to RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE – and LET Him love you. He does love you, you know.

More than you can ever imagine.

You know that day of rest we’re supposed to take each week? Let’s take it. Let’s honor Him by obeying.

Too much to get done to rest one day a week, you say? We may be surprised at the blessing that results when we make up our minds to obey. God can multiply our time when we choose to honor Him above all.

Let’s let Him thrill our hearts with His presence and His peace, and watch Him guide things smoothly into place because we have obeyed and given Him of our time and allowed our souls (and bodies) some much-needed rest.

Things didn’t seem to go so smoothly after you chose the day of rest? That may be:

• God trying to nudge you to check with Him if that thing was supposed to be part of your life.
• A test, to see if you will trust Him and stick with honoring Him.
• A temptation to grumble against God.

Keep your eyes peeled and wisdom close to the front. Keep short accounts with God (confess sin immediately). He wants to bless us with good gifts, and if it seems like something bad happened because (or even though) we obeyed – there must be a deeper purpose for good that we cannot yet see.

Know – remind yourself of the truth – that He is God. He created us. He knows what’s best for us and He knows what we need to plow through this difficult life on earth.

Sit down.

Write out your priorities.

What matters the most to you? Does your schedule reflect what you say your priorities are?

If the answer is no – choose to make some changes. What would our schedules look like if God were in charge of them?

Rework your schedule into the kind of person you want to become. Learn what is BEST – and say no to the rest. Ask God for help, wisdom, and insight in this – and LISTEN for His answer. It could be through reading your Bible, or from a trusted advisor or friend, or just a knowing in your heart. Saying NO to some (or many) things means you can be your BEST YOU for those around you. When done with grace and kindness, saying no is really a YES to yourself, with everyone around you winning, as well.

God is amazing and wants YOU to be more of the person He created YOU to be.

He created your deepest desires.

He gave you burdens on your heart that no one can shake.

Only you can be you. There’s no one else like you.

We have NOTHING to prove and only One to please. For whom will you choose to live?

Credits: This blog inspired by a message from Pastor Chad Moore at Sun Valley Community Church in Gilbert, AZ. Thanks, Pastor Chad, for obeying God.