We live in a rush and hurry world. My guest, editor and author Kathy Ide, is well acquainted with the business of life. I know you will enjoy her insights into Learning to Live Freely and Lightly! We would love to hear your comments!
2MefromHim Devotionals
It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones… Psalm 127:2 NLT
That verse really hits home for me, because I do work hard from early morning until late at night. Oh, not solely on things that earn money to put food on the table. But every single day is chock full of important (or at least urgent) tasks. From the time I get up to the time I finally force myself to turn off the computer and go to bed. About the only time I find myself just sitting in a chair doing nothing is at the dentist’s office. After all, my to-do lists have to-do lists. And every minute that I’m not chipping away at them, I get further behind.
Can you relate?
I can’t count the number of people who’ve told me they just don’t have time to fit one more thing into their schedules. They’re already overbooked and overburdened. I’m beginning to think that busyness is the plague of the twenty-first century.
In Matthew 11:28–30 (MSG), Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? … Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. … Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? … Come to me.
Apparently the people in Jesus’ day had demanding schedules too. Even without smart phones sending them notifications every five minutes.
One word jumps out at me in both of these passages. Rest. When was the last time you really rested? Took a break from your busy schedule to just relax?
But Scripture isn’t advocating taking a two-week vacation to Maui once a year. (Oh, how I wish that was one of the Ten Commandments!) Psalm 127:2 says that God gives us rest. This isn’t a break we give ourselves. And in the Matthew passage, Jesus tells those of us who are stressed out how to tap into the “unforced rhythms of grace.” (Don’t you just love that phrase? You can’t even say it out loud without slowing down a bit.) When we’re feeling tired, worn out, burned out, and anxious, our loving Savior says, “Come to me. Get away with me. Walk with me. Keep company with me. Let me show you how to take a real rest.”
When was the last time you really rested?
If we spend time each day with our precious Lord, focusing on Him and His love for us, and giving Him our schedules and to-do lists, we can trust Him to guide us to accomplish the things He wants us to get to that day. Then we can go to bed at night knowing that whatever didn’t get done wasn’t really on His priority list for that day after all.
© Kathy Ide
Kathy Ide is a published author/ghostwriter, editor/mentor, and writers’ conference speaker. In addition to being the author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, she is the editor/compiler for the new Fiction Lover’s Devotional series. Kathy is the founder and coordinator of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network (www.TheChristianPEN.com) and the Christian Editor Connection (www.ChristianEditor.com). To find out more about Kathy, visit www.KathyIde.com.
Kathy, I absolutely love this and needed it for this week. Thank you!
I believe one of the most important lessons the Lord has ever taught me is to rest in Him. It is in the resting that we learn to be still and know that He is God. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
To hand over our to-do list to God is not easy. We want to be in control. His list will most likely not look like ours either. I needed your reminder of who we serve. Thank you.
I’m so glad you found this devo inspirational. I was at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference for the past week. It’s always a super busy but super blessed time, on so many levels. But one of my favorite moments was walking into the auditorium for the Palm Sunday service and hearing the song “Find Rest, My Soul” sung by a men’s quartet. It totally refreshed my soul!