Refreshed With Purpose
Objective
Rest and acknowledge God. Prepare to walk in your purpose
Scripture(s)
Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 23:10-12, Matthew 13:24 {Scripture from New King James Study Bible}
Stating that you had a long, hectic, and frustrating work week doesn’t do any justice in describing how bad your week really was. You come home on that last day and all you want to do is take a shower and relax. Doesn’t this sound familiar? Genesis 2:2-3 says 2) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. 3) Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because he rested from all his work which God had created and made (NKJV). Even the Father in heaven took rest though he doesn’t even become worn out like we do. He does not have the physical and mental limitations that we have yet he still took rest from the work he had done. This is a time to be renewed. To be refreshed with purpose. To draw closer to God and hear his voice that we may understand his will and purpose for our lives.
When we take the opportunity to rest in God, we can be refreshed, renewed, rededicated, able to stand firm in faith through all the trials and tribulations we face. Rest is defined as, 1. Cessation of work, exertion, or activity, 2. Peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep or the cessation of an activity. Just to state a few. Take for instance, you are in need of a time off, so you decide to take three days off from work. You’re excited because you will finally get a much-deserved break. Your plan for getting this rest is to get the family together and drive down to Disney World for those days. Consider this, it is approximately a 7 and half hour drive from Charlotte to Disney World. So just going and returning is going to be at least a 15-hour of driving. That doesn’t include the driving around you will do when you get to Orlando. Your purpose of going to Disney World is not to stay in the hotel, sleep, and catch up on your favorite T.V. show. More than likely you and the family are going to be at the park first thing in the morning and spend more than half the day there. You may even decide to see other sites in the city. Where is the adequate rest in those 3 days? Though we like to call it rest because we are not at work, it is not even close to rest. The activity describe in the example definitely doesn’t sound like rest at all.
When you are too busy being busy, do you wonder how those close to you are affected? Do you ever think about the holistic impact on your life? I found Exodus 23:10-12 to be interesting considering this topic. It says, 10) Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, 11) but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove. 12) Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son or your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed (NKJV). The study Bible says that In addition to the weekly Sabbath, Israel was also to practice a Sabbath year after arriving in the land. It goes on to speak on the phrase, “let it rest and lie fallow” stating that letting the land rest allowed the poor to glean any produce that might grow during the fallow year. It also gave the land time to rejuvenate for greater productivity. The year of rest was also an act of faith, for the Israelites would have to trust God to meet their needs.
When our lives are busy, how much adequate and quality time are we able to spend with our spouses, our children, our friends, other family members, and even ourselves? Throughout each day, how much adequate and quality time do we spend with the Father? There are a few things happening here, each person and even animals working on the land should take rest and be refreshed. There are times when I am sitting at my desk working and my 3-year-old daughter comes in and says “Daddy, I want to take a ride”. When I hear this, I know that I need to work on getting to a stopping point to take her and my son for a ride. It’s like taking a moment out of a hectic day to get refreshed and spend time with my kids. After that, I can handle the rest of my day a little easier and also made my children happy. Even if they do fall asleep halfway through the ride.
The Scripture and the study Bible go on to describe the importance of leaving the land fallow. Fallow can be defined as 1. Plowed but left unseeded during a growing season, 2. Characterized by inactivity, and 3. To plow and till land specially to eradicate weeds. Allowing the land to remain in this state provides the opportunity for it to be rejuvenated, refreshed and ready for its purpose to produce a plentiful harvest during its next growing season. During this time, even though the land was left fallow, it still provided something for those living on it. Look at yourself like the land. Are you allowing yourself to experience a season of being fallow in order to be rejuvenated and prepared for the next season that God has purposed you for?
There are definitely areas in your life where you need to experience rest. But even in areas where things are going well, you still need to take time to rest. The Scripture stated that in like manner as the land, they should also do the same with the vineyard and olive grove. Though fruit would still be produced, they were not to harvest it. God has you here for a purpose. Many people are counting on you to walk in the purpose God has for you. We are the legs, hands, and feet of the ministry. We have a voice and clear mind that God uses. We can’t allow ourselves to continue as though we are too busy being busy. We must be intentional in finding time to rest with God, coming to him with a whole heart. We do this through reading and studying his word along with prayer and fasting. He is able to relieve our heavy load if we are willing to give it to him. Are you willing and ready?
When we take the opportunity to rest in God, we can be refreshed, renewed, rededicated, able to stand firm in faith through all the trials and tribulations we face. Rest is defined as, 1. Cessation of work, exertion, or activity, 2. Peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep or the cessation of an activity. Just to state a few. Take for instance, you are in need of a time off, so you decide to take three days off from work. You’re excited because you will finally get a much-deserved break. Your plan for getting this rest is to get the family together and drive down to Disney World for those days. Consider this, it is approximately a 7 and half hour drive from Charlotte to Disney World. So just going and returning is going to be at least a 15-hour of driving. That doesn’t include the driving around you will do when you get to Orlando. Your purpose of going to Disney World is not to stay in the hotel, sleep, and catch up on your favorite T.V. show. More than likely you and the family are going to be at the park first thing in the morning and spend more than half the day there. You may even decide to see other sites in the city. Where is the adequate rest in those 3 days? Though we like to call it rest because we are not at work, it is not even close to rest. The activity describe in the example definitely doesn’t sound like rest at all.
When you are too busy being busy, do you wonder how those close to you are affected? Do you ever think about the holistic impact on your life? I found Exodus 23:10-12 to be interesting considering this topic. It says, 10) Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, 11) but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove. 12) Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son or your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed (NKJV). The study Bible says that In addition to the weekly Sabbath, Israel was also to practice a Sabbath year after arriving in the land. It goes on to speak on the phrase, “let it rest and lie fallow” stating that letting the land rest allowed the poor to glean any produce that might grow during the fallow year. It also gave the land time to rejuvenate for greater productivity. The year of rest was also an act of faith, for the Israelites would have to trust God to meet their needs.
When our lives are busy, how much adequate and quality time are we able to spend with our spouses, our children, our friends, other family members, and even ourselves? Throughout each day, how much adequate and quality time do we spend with the Father? There are a few things happening here, each person and even animals working on the land should take rest and be refreshed. There are times when I am sitting at my desk working and my 3-year-old daughter comes in and says “Daddy, I want to take a ride”. When I hear this, I know that I need to work on getting to a stopping point to take her and my son for a ride. It’s like taking a moment out of a hectic day to get refreshed and spend time with my kids. After that, I can handle the rest of my day a little easier and also made my children happy. Even if they do fall asleep halfway through the ride.
The Scripture and the study Bible go on to describe the importance of leaving the land fallow. Fallow can be defined as 1. Plowed but left unseeded during a growing season, 2. Characterized by inactivity, and 3. To plow and till land specially to eradicate weeds. Allowing the land to remain in this state provides the opportunity for it to be rejuvenated, refreshed and ready for its purpose to produce a plentiful harvest during its next growing season. During this time, even though the land was left fallow, it still provided something for those living on it. Look at yourself like the land. Are you allowing yourself to experience a season of being fallow in order to be rejuvenated and prepared for the next season that God has purposed you for?
There are definitely areas in your life where you need to experience rest. But even in areas where things are going well, you still need to take time to rest. The Scripture stated that in like manner as the land, they should also do the same with the vineyard and olive grove. Though fruit would still be produced, they were not to harvest it. God has you here for a purpose. Many people are counting on you to walk in the purpose God has for you. We are the legs, hands, and feet of the ministry. We have a voice and clear mind that God uses. We can’t allow ourselves to continue as though we are too busy being busy. We must be intentional in finding time to rest with God, coming to him with a whole heart. We do this through reading and studying his word along with prayer and fasting. He is able to relieve our heavy load if we are willing to give it to him. Are you willing and ready?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God our Father and creator, the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and Jesus Christ our Redeemer. What you have done for all of us is more than we could ever imagine or repay. All that we need is in you. We are faced with many things in our lives, and we let those things come before you. We allow those things to take our eyes off of you. During this season of Lent, this season of prayer and fasting, draw closer to us. Speak to our hearts as we open up to receive your word. Help us to understand the importance of rest and making you the number one priority in our lives. It is by no means easy, but we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Lord rejuvenate us. Pour a new spirit into us. Show us our purpose in life according to your will. Help us to use the creativity, gifts and talents that you have given us through your Holy Spirit. Teach us to take a more holistic approach as it relates to our lives. Continue to call us to come back to you and we will hear. Continue to love us as you do so we may spread your love to others. We are thankful to be covered and redeemed by the blood of Christ. In the name of your only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we pray, AMEN!
written by: John C. Jones III
Posted in Too Busy Being Busy