Not another New Year's resolution

At the beginning of each year people talk about their resolutions to do this and that thing better so their lives will be better and they will be happier. That is great, but I am hesitant to make hard and fast resolutions. I like to think of mine as a plan with room for God to redirect. I am a planner by nature but over and over again throughout my life, God has shown me that my plan isn't always His best. Sometimes I willingly lay down my plans, and other times He has to hit me over the head to get me to let go of them. I hope I am getting better. With that said, I will share some wisdom I have gained through the years that may help as you make your yearly "plans."

God designed us with bodies that need rest. From the beginning of creation, He added a day of rest, the seventh day, not because He is a God who gets tired, but to set an example and a rhythm for us. He also created night and day. Again, not because He needs rest, but because those He would place on the earth do.

Genesis 1:5 ESV - 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 

Genesis 2:2-3 ESV - 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Psalm 121:2-4 ESV - 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Isaiah 40:28 ESV - 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

So as you make your plans, make room for rest. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God takes rest very seriously. He established the sabbath for His people. They were to rest from any work on the seventh day of the week -- the sabbath. In fact, God is so serious about His people resting that it is one of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:8 ESV - 8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.). Also in the Old Testament, He commanded every seventh year to be a sabbath for the land (Leviticus 25:1-7). They were not to sow their fields that year, but let the land "rest." This would have been great for the land since we know that keeps it from being stripped of nutrients, but also think of the physical rest it allowed the people that year.

When we rest physically, it not only helps our bodies feel better, but it allows our minds to work better. Being busy can keep us from making good decisions and thinking clearly, and more than that, it can keep us from spending time with God in prayer, reading His word, and meditating on what He has to say to us. These should be daily practices because out of all relationships, ours with the Lord is the most important. When we spend time with God, our priorities are better in line with His, and we are more protected from the attacks of the enemy because we rightly understand who we are and who our great God is. Do you recall the story of the sisters Mary and Martha in the Bible? Martha was frustrated because Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet listening while she was busy being hostess. Below is the passage and Jesus' response.

Luke 10:38-42 ESV - 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Sometimes I get so caught up in what I am doing, and it is often work for the Lord, that I neglect the one thing that is most important. So again I urge you to plan time to rest. But your rest does not all need to be a time of doing nothing. Some of that rest is found in spending time with God. He joyously desires to spend that time with you and me!

Psalm 149:4 ESV - 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 147:11 ESV - 11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

We are His treasure, and He is ours! Be sure to check out my post on Bible study.

Matthew 6:21 ESV - 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 ESV - 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.