Time Off

Ex.34:²¹ (VOICE) “ You are to work for six days; but when the seventh day arrives, you are to observe the Sabbath and rest. Even when it is the time to plough and harvest, you must still rest on the seventh day.”

The story most times is, a lot of people feel burdened with what they have to do tomorrow. The burden for tomorrow’s work is often more than the pleasure we find in what God has already enabled us to do today. Just calm down.

A lot of people are in God’s Presence right now, but they are thinking about work on Monday. Some other people are thinking about the lunch menu and what they need to do to make it work. Calm down and just enjoy God and His Presence. God wants us to have the blessing of rest.

Ex.20:¹¹ “For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested” [with emphasis]. Now this is God Almighty, the One that does not sleep or slumber. He created the heavens and the earth then on the seventh day He rested. Have you ever wondered why God chose the phrase, ‘He rested’. He could have used so many other words. After all, Jesus said, “my Father works hitherto I work.” The Father is still creating things, He is still healing and delivering. So why did the Bible say He rested on the seventh day? God is saying to you and I, “If I can rest, who are you not to rest?’

By God’s grace, I am a serial entrepreneur and I know what it is to run a business. However, the reality is that you cannot be busier than God. You cannot be more important than God. The most important Person stopped and rested, why shouldn’t you? I used to feel guilty every time I stopped to rest. So much so that I jumped right back into work. Eventually, I had to tell myself the truth that the world will go on without me. The world will go on without you too – just try it and see. For one day, pretend to be unavailable and you will notice that the sun will still rise, the media will still have breaking news and life will go on.

Rest is the enjoyment of completed work. My model of rest is to deflect daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually. That is the only way to remain fresh. Most people appear to be busy, busy, busy but in reality, they are busy struggling. Heaven has been trying to get an idea to you that will change your life but because you are not resting, you cannot receive it.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, because I have come into Your Presence today, I have found rest for my soul and I shall receive from You that which will enhance my rest, in Jesus Name. Amen!