Fight for It: A 21-Day DevotionalSample

Today’s Devotional: When I turned 50, rather than throwing a big party, I decided to plan an experience! I love hiking, and I’d always dreamed of climbing Mount Washington in New Hampshire. So, with the help of my husband and family, a few of us started preparations for the six-hour trip to the peak. If you’ve ever done any hiking, you’d know that trails have “blazes” along the way. These are a collection of markers spread out every 50 to 75 feet to help keep you on course. If you don’t have those repetitive trail markers leading you, you can get lost pretty easily. Even with the blazes, it’s easy to miss one and have to turn around. As we entered the trailhead, we knew that the rhythm of having these trailblazes along our path was key to our finishing for a couple of reasons. First, they provided direction, and second, they made a way for us to pause and rest without worrying about where we left off. Getting lost or hurt would end the trip, so taking regular breaks along the way wasn’t just for fun—it was necessary to help get us to the top. And when we arrived, it was glorious! If we go back to the beginning of time, Scripture tells us that God created rhythm in our universe and designed us as human beings to live within that rhythm. One of both work and rest. He even set an example for us by resting Himself after six days of creation work! Today, with our busy lives, many of us don’t live with this in mind, and I believe that we’re seeing the results all around us: people are worn-out, burned-out, anxious, and depressed now more than ever. It seems to me that life, at times, is like that hiking trail. It’s hard work and strenuous. Sometimes we may get distracted and lose our way, or maybe think powering through is our best option. But God, in His kindnes,s gave us directions to help us stay the course and instructed us to find rest so that we can finish well. Rest makes room for us to enjoy relationships, creation, and most importantly, closeness with our Creator. By building a consistent rhythm of rest into our lives, we are not only living an obedient life, we are living our best life! — Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Bethany Kush Question: * What do I need to eliminate from my life in order to build healthy spiritual rhythms of rest? A Prayer to ‘Look In’: Lord God, forgive me for neglecting your command to rest. I admit that you know me better than I know myself, and I commit today to start building a rhythm of rest in my life so I can live a life devoted to you. Amen.