Today I am joining several other women in a day of prayer for an upcoming writers conference we are attending. My family is in Orlando this week on “vacation”. If you have vacationed in Orlando before you probably know it is not usually a time of rest. The last few days we have worn ourselves out at the parks and had many great laughs and memories together. I find it so amazing that this morning I was awakened by a loud clap of thunder. It is rainy and grey here today. The house we are staying is has a covered back porch that leads to the pool and that is where I am sitting as I type this. The boys are all sad we can’t attend the parks today because of the rain, but in this dreary weather I have sat still just long enough to see God’s hand at work. He is telling us it is time to rest. To be still. To have time with Him. Can you hear Him?
Coffee by my side and the cool breeze blowing, I have been out here praying for my sisters in Christ and for our upcoming conference. My mind starts to drift to the grey clouds and the coolness around me this morning. Yesterday it was 95 degrees and this morning a brisk 60. In this cool breeze I can close my eyes and almost feel Him whispering to me . . . “rest”.
We are such a busy people. We have so much going on in our families, our ministries, and our work. Much of what we do is for our local churches and is wonderful, God-led action. No matter what we are busy with we must always remember to honor God by obediently and purposefully taking time for the Sabbath. I know the Sabbath looks different for everyone, but to me it is less about a particular day and more about the condition of my heart. Am I taking time from my busy schedule and list of tasks to sit at the feet of Jesus and just be still enough to hear from Him? I must admit, most of the time I am not.
In His Word, God commands us to make time for rest and for honoring Him. It is just as much a commandment as it is not to lie or commit murder. I want to encourage you today to make time for Him. Time to just be still and be in His presence. Sit at His feet and marvel at who He is and who we are not.
“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken. – Isaiah 58
How do you spend time with the Father? What is your favorite way to put away the distractions of this world and focus on Him?
This post is part of the Jesus & Coffee linkup. The theme for May is Redemption, but you are welcome to link any post you like. Click on the blue frog for more information!
This post is linked up to Me, Coffee, and Jesus, and Coffee for your Heart
Visit Website
Jennifer – thank you so much for this. I needed it very much this morning. I’m glad you found a day of rest. The Lord is always faithful — and a dreary day can bring beautiful rest for a weary soul. It sounds heavenly! Haha And I’m sure your boys will find a way to enjoy the day too.
They sure will! Thanks!
Jen this is awesome! I love how God just swoops in sometimes and reroutes our days from what we thought they should look like.
Rest and acknowledging our Father is so vital to getting refueled inwardly for our own selves but also to be able to pour back out in the world.
“..but to me it is less about a particular day and more about the condition of my heart.” This resonates with how we believe in our household too, though we do attend church – I can definitely admit that there have been instances before where my heart was not right even though I “went.”
I love this post girl, thanks for stopping and resting with Him, and sharing with us this truth!
You are so welcome Meghan! Learning a little more in Him each day 🙂
I love how you described the Sabbath for you means, “less about a particular day and more about the condition of my heart.” I know that the Sabbath doesn’t have to be Sunday (or Saturday). It is a day that you set aside for Him, and that makes it Sabbath. Really love your heart and your words, Jen!
Thanks Chesley. I have had so many people get hung up on what day the sabbath is. We can go to church on Sunday and call it the sabbath but if our heart is not honoring God we are not obediently resting on the sabbath regardless of which day it is! 🙂