Rest!

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."  Genesis 2:2-3

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'"  Mark 6:31

From a recent CNBC article:

"[...]A three-day weekend? We can barely get through three waking hours without working, new research shows. The average smartphone user checks his or her device 150 times per day, or about once every six minutes. Meanwhile, government data from 2011 says 35 percent of us work on weekends, and those who do average five hours of labor, often without compensation—or even a thank you. The other 65 percent were probably too busy to answer surveyors' questions.

There's plenty of debate among economists and psychologists whether the economy is to blame, or we do this to ourselves. There's little arguing that the concept of a Sabbath is in serious danger."

It is so easy, in these digital times to be always 'on;' to be always 'plugged in.'  But this isn't what God has in mind for us - not even close!  Even He takes time to rest (Genesis 2:2-3).  If the Creator and Overseer of the universe has time to take a break, surely we do, too.  When we don't take time to rest, we're saying: 'God, you might need to take a break, but I don't.  I've got the power to keep going and I'm far too busy to stop and rest.  Maybe that works for you, but not for me.'  What a foolish, unwise thing to say!  Pray this prayer today:

"Lord, as we pause this weekend to honor those who have sacrificed so greatly for our freedom, let us also take time to emulate you, and rest; and also to thank you and honor your Son, the Ultimate Payor for our freedom, Jesus Christ.  Let us be wise to take time this Memorial Day weekend to rest and enjoy our families.  By doing this, we are living life as you intended it - with time for work and sowing, and time for leisure and reaping.  This is your best for our lives, God.  Thank you for this blessing.  Amen!"