In part 1 of a series of articles on the topic of rest (ceasing and recovering from labor), the fresh idea was introduced that a) rest isn’t well understood in the modern day and b) modern-day rest doesn’t have obvious methods or results. In other words, you could be desiring or even pursuing rest for good health, well-being, and a higher quality of workmanship, but not know the extent of rest God has in store for you. This second article will personalize this topic of rest so that you may reconsider the Biblical refreshment available for your life.

Ask Yourself Hard Questions about your Work & your Rest

• Which direction do I take with my work and rest: working to rest or resting to work?
• Do I tend to collapse from work more often than I schedule rest before or after taxing events, so that I can work strong and recover well?
• Am I choosing rest that is well-matched to this season of my life?
• Do my times of rest look any different than the way rest looks in non-believers’ lives?
• Do any of my restful activities produce refreshment that lasts long enough to accomplish good work?
• Do I know which rest activities unfortunately increase the need for even more rest, and lead me to feeling like I can’t ever get enough?
• Do I recognize when I need to make changes or seek variety with my rest?
• Does my rest recharge me? Or simply keep me alive?
• Does anything need to change about my attitude regarding rest?
• How does my ability (or inability) to properly rest impact others in my life?

Shine His Light on this Examination Period of Rest

Having to examine the quality of your rest may seem unnecessary, too hard, or over the top. But, before you allow yourself to to be pestered by wicked whispers from the Enemy, allow the Lord to comfort, strengthen, and convict you for this process. Take these truths in:

• Your Word is…a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
• Search me, O God and know my heart…and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23, 24)
• He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
• “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
• For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

What’s Next?

Here are just a few ideas to help you get started:

• You could make a list or some journal entries describing:
  • when and where you rest
  • what you use or what you do in order to rest
  • how you feel and what you do after you rest
• You could rank your restful activities from most to least refreshing. You could even track this data in your planner for the next few weeks.
• Embarking on this journey could also be fun to do with a companion! You could ask anyone of any age and stage to join you in better and more Christianly restfulness.
• You could also ask those close to you to provide input on your rest effectiveness.
• You could simply ponder this topic for a while, and then anticipate future articles to cover detailed rest for your body, thought-life, emotions, relationships, lifestyle, and spirit.
• Don’t let perfectionism hold you back. Pray and enjoy this time with your Lord and Savior as He longs to restore your soul.
• Expect rest to be more restful now that you’re being even more deliberate to seek Him for it.

Prayer & Blessing

“Examine me, O Lord…examine my heart and my mind.” (Ps. 26:2)