The Value Of Rest
The last five years I have learned in hyper speed the value of rest.
It actually took a major crash in my career to get myself set up to truly understand my motto of the Vinedresser: “no strive, simply abide…”
When a dear part of your heart gets rearranged, you come to grips that your performance is not the basis of who you are. You are who you are based on the finished work of the cross. In that love relationship, intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you get to experience a deeper level in your relationship resulting in His righteousness, peace, and joy overflowing.
Oh how He loves to work through those who are marked by peace and rest.
These past few weeks I’ve learned this in a new way.
I got hit hard by the flu bug. I mean slapped down, shaken apart, and stripped to pieces.
I got excited though.
Really?
Yes. It was one of the first times I did not fret, get depressed, or off track in a “ woe is me” lane.
And this is the key. I’m learning to rest, abide, and trust, no matter what is going on in and around me.
The Value of Rest
Don’t get me wrong. I do believe in hard work. But I also know long hours with no rest means I’m counting on myself, not God. I am learning to work hard from a place of peace, asking God for direction every step of the way.
Look at Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
I love how the Passion Translation states this:
A song of the stairway, by King Solomon
If God’s grace doesn’t help the builders,
they will labor in vain to build a house.
If God’s mercy doesn’t protect the city,
all the sentries will circle it in vain.
It really is senseless to work so hard
from early morning till late at night,
toiling to make a living for fear of not having enough.
God can provide for his lovers even while they sleep!
Psalm 127:1-2 tpt
Notice that this Psalm is by King Solomon.
I learned that God chose Solomon over David to build His Temple. Why? King David, even though He was a man after God’s heart, was a man of war.
Solomon was a man of rest. and God chose Him to build the temple. God wanted someone stamped by peace and quietness. (Read 1 Chronicles 22 for more insight).
Do you know God can give you wisdom while you sleep?
Your spirit never sleeps. So I believe God loves to speak to you and even re-arrange things in your spirit while you sleep. Ask Him to speak and for you to remember what He shows you!
So, God has called you to be a person who abides and rests in Him. He does not want you spinning out and worrying over every little thing. Long hours of striving with no rest is a recipe for emotional burn out.
During these 10 days I was thankful for time to really rest my body. I listened to the Word and to audio books. I took naps. I slept in. I did not stress over the things I had planned to create for my business. I trusted God. And I thanked the LORD often over my husband’s tender care and amazing healthy meals.
So I challenge you. Be a person of abiding and resting. The world’s way is to strain and hold tightly.
But remember, every good thing comes from God.
Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change. God was delighted to give us birth by the truth of his infallible Word so that we would fulfill his chosen destiny for us and become the favorite ones out of all his creation! James 1:17-18 tpt
See that? You are HIS FAVORITE and He has chosen you TO FULFILL YOUR CHOSEN DESTINY!!!
So hold loosely the things of this world and go to bed at a normal time!
Here is a piece of my heart in a Vinedresser word I wrote after that major career crash:
“It’s the end of a day. Take your weary heart and rest in my arms. I will hold you when the exhaustion hits hard.
“You wonder what you will do with the haunting memories that still hit you and make fear pop up more than you like. Seek My love and my counsel. I lead my godly lovers gently with wisdom, care, and attention.
“I know you don’t understand it all right now. But don’t fret. Don’t waste time worrying. When you lean on me and trust, worry will flee. Now, simply rest, My child, in ME.”
Love the Vinedresser
So no strive, simply abide. Go take a nap! Discover the value of rest!!!!
In the Vine,
Theresa
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