Getting Rest: How to Make it a Priority

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Sometimes, we don't know we need rest until we consciously take time to rest.

Fitting in rest, like fitting in fitness, is essential for our body, mind, heart, and soul - but even more so when we are dealing with a difficult or stressful situation.

Are you dealing with something unusual or difficult right now? It may seem almost impossible to rest when things are unsettled, especially if there is an emotional component. This may be a stressful situation at work or at home. However, it is possible to find rest when we trust God. Although it may not take away the problem, it will remove the worry from the concern and the despair from its perplexity. There is soul rest when we move from not knowing what to do to acknowledging God has everything under control. When we trust God and acknowledge His principles, we understand He wants us to seek rest in Him. And when we seek Him, we experience peaceful rest, even amid our storm.

We need rest.

The definition of rest is to "cease work or movement to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength." God has created us to rest and not be working all the time. He acknowledges that rest is essential, and we must take this seriously.

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

We need to schedule rest.

Do you take time to rest, or is the thought of it not even on your radar because of your workload and responsibilities. We can get caught up in life in general and/or a specific situation and never take time to stop for a moment to rest and recover. Going forward, build in times of rest into your life. It may mean making a conscious decision not to think about a situation. It may mean going for a walk. It may mean not checking emails or Social Media for an extended time. It does not matter when or how. It just matters that you take time to rest.

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:9-11)

We need to remember our true rest is found in Jesus.

We will not find rest in the world. Satan does not want you to rest; he wants you to continue feeling anxious, stressed, and caught up in a difficult situation. Augustine said, "Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee."

“True rest is found in God alone. My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2)

Practical tips for finding rest:

• Review your weekly schedule. See if it is "jam-packed" or if you have scheduled some rest time. This means not just a rest from work but also a rest from thinking about work.

“Yes my soul, find rest in God. My hope comes from Him.” (Psalm 62:5)

• Are you satisfied you have a good balance of work and rest? If you feel like there is literally "no margin," take a step back and evaluate if something needs to change.

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:9-11)

• Do you need to incorporate some rest into your life? The first step is to seek Jesus. He has told us that we can go to Him, and He will give us rest.

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

• Do you know someone who seems to be overworking and not getting enough rest? What can you do to help and/or support them to get some needed rest?

“But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” (Exodus 17:12)

Taking This to God in Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, it is easy to get caught up with the pressures and expectations of the world. Help me to always remember Your principles and promises, especially that You promise rest to those who seek You. Help me always remember to seek Your will and to rest in the trust I have placed in You. Thank You for Your faithfulness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

May God richly bless you this week as you trust Him, seek Him and find rest in Him.

Bonny, Christian Women at Work

Trust God for Courage for Your Journey - Part 2

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Have you ever thought of what the word “courage” means? The Oxford Dictionary describes courage as the “ability to do something that frightens one.” It is also defined as “the ability to undertake an overwhelming difficulty or pain despite the eminent and unavoidable presence of fear.”

Women in our Christian Women at Work Bible Study group defined it in the following ways:

• feeling the fear but doing it anyway

• working in spite of the fear

• stepping up to the challenge, and

• leaning on God when afraid and then being able to do what we are afraid of.

In the workplace, as in life, we are regularly confronted with fearful or uncomfortable situations. We need the courage to deal with them. Opportunities can also make us nervous or uncomfortable as we consider the decision we need to make and what the outcome might look like. Perhaps you are afraid to do something, but you know you should. You may be scared to speak up about something, but you know you should.

Courage is the step needed to move from inactivity to activity in a fearful situation.

Take a moment to ask yourself, "What do you feel you should be doing but need the courage to do?"

Below are 14 bible verses about courage. This week, read the verses of each day and record what God wants you to know. Certain things will “stand out” to your heart, soul, and mind as you read them and meditate on them. At the end of the week, review what God has revealed to you and record what your next step will be.

Monday:

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

2. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

3. The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.” (Deuteronomy 31:23)

4. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7)

Write down what God wants you to know today.

Tuesday:

5. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

6. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. (1 Chronicles 22:13)

7. David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished. (1 Chronicles 28:20)

8. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. (1 Chronicles 32:7)

Be sure to make note of what God wants you to know today.

Wednesday:

9. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

10. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

11. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24)

12. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94:18-19)

Record what God wants you to know today.

Thursday:

13. Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. (Proverbs 23:12)

14. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Jot down what God wants you to know today.

Friday:

Courage application: What is your next step in your journey with God? Be specific as you decide and write it down for future reference. Give it to God in prayer, then trust God for the courage to take this step.

Taking This to God in Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which gives us everything we need to know about every situation. Help us to always turn to Your Word first for wisdom, guidance, and encouragement. Please help us to understand what it means to be courageous. You have told us to be courageous; therefore, we know we can be because of You. Thank You for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

May God richly bless you as you turn to Him for courage.

Have a wonderful week!

Bonny, Christian Women at Work

Trust God for Courage on Your Journey

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

When you are going through a tough time at work, do you try to just get through it, or do you take time to reflect on what has happened? In a busy life, we sometimes feel we don’t have time for this, but it is crucial to take time to think through it and not just get through it. Before we can improve in an area of our lives, we need to understand it better from a personal perspective and God’s perspective. 

For many years, I have been interested in going back to school. However, it has been many years since I graduated, so I was not sure if I would be able to handle a Master’s program. I contacted the University and was given permission to take one of the required courses. I thoroughly enjoyed it and successfully completed it. This experience gave me the courage to apply to the Master’s in Rehab Science program, and I was delighted to be accepted. There is no doubt it is a lot of work. Still, it also applies to my business, my clinical interest in osteoporosis, and my confidence in being an active research participant. I definitely had to work through the process of what my fear was (fear of failure), but I felt joy and peace with the course experience as well as the application process. 

Is there something you think you would like to do but don’t yet have the courage to do? This week, take time to answer the following four questions. Find a quiet place and set aside time to think about each question. Don’t rush through your answers, as an understanding of courage can be the next step you need to take in your faith journey. Prayerfully ask God to give you the wisdom to understand courage and its importance in your walk with Him. 

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how courageous would you say you are? Why did you give yourself that number? 

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139: 23-24

2. What is something regarding work, or something that interests you, that you want to do but have not yet done? 

"I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies." Psalm 119:59

3. Regarding something you want to do you have not yet done, do you think it is a courage issue? If so, what specifically are you fearful of? 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." Hebrews 12:21

4. What do you think God wants you to know about this situation?

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

As you reflect on courage from a personal perspective, please join us next week for our Memo on reflecting on courage from God’s perspective. 

Taking This to God in Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word is rich with demonstrations of Your love and faithfulness. Forgive us if and when we take Your gifts of love and direction lightly, and do not go deeply into our hearts and souls with an appreciation for them. Forgive us when we do not actively put them into place so we can take the next steps in our faith journey. Forgive us when we do not turn to You and Your Word for wisdom on how to deal with fearful situations which keep us from doing Your Will. This week, please give us an understanding of courage and teach us all we need to know for what You have planned for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

May God richly bless you this week as you take time to consider courage and its role in your journey of faith. Have a wonderful week!

Bonny, Christian Women at Work