Earth Is Heaven's BootcampNäide

Take Time To Rest!

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 NIV

His disciples, whom Jesus had sent out two by two to preach the word, knew they faced opposition and that they would be tired and weary, but the disciples continued their mission in obedience. The words above, found in Mark 6, were how Jesus greeted them when they returned.

I have referenced a few other places in scripture to make us realize that Jesus expects us to rest our bodies. What happens when we rest? When God created the human body, he designed it with rest in mind. As we sleep, some pretty miraculous things take place:

• Cells are being repaired.
• At night, the hormone melatonin is produced.
• The brain clears out toxic waste and consolidates memories.
• The brain’s glymphatic (waste clearance) system clears out waste from the central nervous system.
• Energy is being restored.
• Our immune and cardiovascular systems is being renewed.
• While we rest, our body goes to work for us!

In the beginning God had rest on His mind: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:11 NIV. Resting is another blessing, another gift from God.

He thought so much of rest that He designed it for all living things: Animals rest, bears hibernate, trees, bushes, and grasses go dormant, perennial flowers rest, and even the land is to take a period of rest:

God even wants the land to rest: “But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of Sabbath rest, a Sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.” Leviticus 25:4 NIV

Another form of rest that will provide peace to the human soul can be found in Matthew 11:28 NIV: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus desired our physical bodies to rest, but He also desires to give our spirits rest by abiding in Him.

Prayer: Father, help us understand the purpose behind Your creation of night and day; night was meant for rest and daytime for work. Rest allows us to be more productive on the job, both physically and spiritually. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.