January 26th
January 26th
To continue the metaphor from yesterday…if you have ever seen a marathon either live or in person you will notice that periodically along the path there are water/Gatorade stations where a runner can grab a drink as they run. The same is true in our race. But WE have to drink. Those hydration stations do the runners no good if they don’t take the cups or bottles and drink from them. WE are the same. We have God’s Word and prayer/worship available to us 24/7 but if we don’t engage in those energy sources we will not be energized or refueled. The Holy Spirit is there to provide us not just direction but also the nourishment that we need to be able to continue. If we try to keep running without being spiritually fed we will find ourselves weak, malnourished and ragged. We will NOT have what it takes to finish the race well, IF we even stay on course at all. We need our time with Jesus so that we are refueled and can continue to do His work.
John 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
John 14:26-27 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
We also need the rest, true rest, that only He can provide. Remember that Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This means that we NEED a day of rest. We need a day to recoup so that we can keep going. If we don’t take that rest then we won’t have the means to continue the race. So we find that all along our race course at regular intervals there are not just “hydration stations” for us to refuel, but also places to rest. So, we rest and then get back to it refreshed and ready to go again.
This year, let’s make a day of rest a priority. It is too easy to get so busy that we don’t have time to rest. We need the rest. Listen, God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day. If He rested then we certainly should. -But, make sure it is real rest and relaxation. Yes, there are temporary seasons in our lives that might cause us to stretch more time between those days of rest, but those should be temporary. Rest needs to be a priority. Rest doesn’t have to be doing nothing, as a matter of fact, we should move around on our day of rest, but move without deadlines. Take a walk with no time crunch. Take a nap, read a book that you enjoy. Go have coffee with your spouse or a friend. Call a friend and chat for a while. Yes, do your time with Jesus, don’t forget about Him, but also rest. For me, cranking up the worship music or an audiobook and cleaning out a closet or organizing something is very relaxing. For you it might be drawing or coloring or tinkering in the garage. Let’s do our best to be healthy this year and that means being obedient to the Lord about the Sabbath.
Mark 2:27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus, I need the reminder to rest and refresh in your presence. Help me to remember that you are the key to me finishing the race. Help me to take time from the busyness of life to allow myself to breathe and help me to stay faithful to refuel throughout the day by your Spirit. Thank you Jesus that you are faithful to refill me with your living water.