July 17th

JULY 17th

Healing and rest are essential. Jesus knew that. What did Jesus do? He often went off by himself to pray. When you need refreshing sometimes you just need to get in the presence of the Lord by yourself and be flooded with His refreshing presence. Sometimes you need to be with other believers. Sometimes you need sleep. Sometimes you need time with your loved ones. Sometimes you need to laugh. Sometimes you need to give.

The rest and refreshing that the Lord offers us is different from what we obtain on our own. Vegging out in front of the TV or binging Netflix or social media does not bring rest. We are no less tired and no more refreshed than we were before we start those things. We need healing and rest, we need refreshing. This refreshing is what Jesus talked about when He said come to Him and He would give us rest. That rest is true rest, it is reinvigorating, it is refreshing.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The word rest in that sentence comes from a Greek word that means to give strength to, to reinvigorate, to replenish, to refresh. It is like diving into cool water on a hot day. Think about it…does Netflix do that for you?

Reading and studying the Word of God can give you that rest.

Psalm 19:7-8 The law of the LORD is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the LORD are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Prayer can be refreshing, it is reconnecting with the Lord. Jesus did that frequently. He went off to reconnect with His Father.

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

We may not find prayer refreshing if we only pray when we need something. Try taking a walk and first asking the Lord what is on His heart today before you unload on Him. See if you come away feeling better than you did before.

Worship can give you that rest, it can refresh you.

Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Isaiah 40: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

That is the rest you want, right? So seek HIM.

Jesus thank you that you offer rest that this world cannot provide. Help me to find the rest in You that I need.