I’ve been thinking a lot about rest lately, mostly because I’m doing so much physical labor right now, plus trying to juggle everything else. These scriptures soothe my mind and soul.
“Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 28-30
Here, Jesus is calling to us, telling us that we can stop our laborious strivings, trying to be “good enough.” We need to trust in the sacrifice that He did. Thanks to Jesus, we can be reconciled to God. That is definitely rest and peace for the mind and soul.
You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:7-8
It’s always a great feeling to get “new” stuff. I got a iPod a while ago, and it is SO cool! But nothing-no stuff- can compare with the restful state of a mind and soul at ease. Times of prosperity are relieving, but the gladness and joy that comes from knowing all is well between you and God- well, nothing compares with that. And this puts our mind at ease, so we can sleep at night. Sometimes I do not sleep well. I’m a person who needs less sleep than the Average Joe, anyway, but when I am planning a big project, or am worried or frightened, the little sleep that I get suffers. Time to go back to Him, remember that He puts the weary soul at rest.
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and assurance shall be your strength… the work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. Isaiah 30:15; Isaiah 32:17
When we have physical rest, such as sleep or naps, it renews our bodies with strength and energy. But our minds and souls need renewing, too. God does that. He strengthens us when we return to Him, when we make things right with Him. And He gives us a bone-satisfying rest that goes to the very core of our being.
:wubs:
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June 9, 2010 at 9:20 pm
This is very timely for me.
June 10, 2010 at 10:13 pm
I love the thought of rest. As you said, our bodies need it and so do our minds. And resting in the Lord is a great thing. Take all your burdens and give them to him.
June 14, 2010 at 11:10 am
Recently I read this verse that really spoke to me along the lines of rest, peace and joy…its in Mt. 9:2…Jesus spoke to the paralytic saying, “Son, be of good cheer your sins are forgiven you.” You may recall this same account recorded in Lk. 5 where it talks about the hole in the roof, etc. In this account those details aren’t mentioned…anyway, Jesus’ words were restful words though the man was still a paralytic at this point in the account. Jesus went on to heal the man, but not before He rebuked the religious sect for their judgment against Him. We all need to be careful to receive these words daily in remembering our sins are forgiven…”…BE of GOOD CHEER…” We enter His rest by believing His Word (Heb. 4:2&3)
“Now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:13
God is soooo GOOD!!! Thanks R and God bless you and your readers
July 29, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Well said, AMEN! I wonder though, why God made us to need sleep. He doesn’t sleep and the Bible says we are created in His image. I just wonder why. I guess it’s too help us manage time in smaller increments maybe. Any other ideas?
July 30, 2010 at 8:20 am
Hi Karen! The need for sleep has me baffled, too. In Judaism, one tradition says that sleep is like a “mini-death.” (The Bible considers evening to be the beginning of the day, and morning to be the end of the day- totally opposite to Western culture). Sleep is an example or type of death, and our waking is an example of resurrection. But I haven’t found any solid scriptural evidence for that… and there seems to be a dozen different Jewish traditions for everything, it seems!