Did you know that God designed us all with a need for rest?

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile."
(Mark 6:31, NKJV)

Jesus saw the need to give those who followed Him a time to rest and get refreshed. So, He made a point to take them away from the demands of their day-to-day lives, to a deserted place for the sole purpose of getting some rest. Is it time for you to get a little rest? It seems like I’ve run into a quite a few people lately who, while enjoying what they do, just need a little break from it. Did you know that God designed us all with a need for rest?
 
Just think about it. He made the world and everything in it in six days and then on the seventh day, He took a rest. Have you ever wondered why? I mean the Bible tells us that God never sleeps and He never slumbers, so why would He need to rest? I believe that He did that to show all of us that if we go hard, work hard, and play hard, we also need to find time to get some rest for the purpose of being refreshed.
 
Have you noticed that when you’re tired, you lose your passion for the very things that you usually enjoy doing? Athletes understand the need to rest their bodies. Farmers understand the need to rest their ground for a season so that the next year it will produce a greater harvest. So you and I need to find regular times away to rest our minds, our bodies and our souls.
 
Today’s text is a reminder that even when there are a lot of demands upon our lives we need to get away awhile and get some rest. A time to rest is God designed, God ordained and God approved. So there is no reason to be embarrassed by the need for it. No need to make excuses for it, just take it, you’ll be better for it.
 
Now don’t get me wrong, when I say rest I’m not talking about just going to the couch and laying down for a week. For you, resting from your day-to-day may be to actually do something strenuous. For instance, I like playing a round of golf or taking a ride on my motorcycle. While those things take effort, they both rest my soul, and serve to clear my head.

Husband's why not give your wife a day of rest this weekend and take the kids somewhere and treat your wife to a spa day? For those of you who are spending way too much time at the office, how about scheduling some time with your friends to clear your head and your heart.
 
Or how about grabbing that Bible of yours and getting yourself to a quiet place to spend some uninterrupted time of reading and prayer with God. Look at what He promises us in Acts 3:19, The Message Bible:       

Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you.

So take an honest look at your life and ask yourself, is it time to change your ways and turn to God? If that’s the case, I can guarantee you that when you do, you’ll see showers of blessings that will refresh you.
 
Prayer: Father, help me to schedule in times of rest in my life. I’m tired of being tired, and I need to make a change. Will You help me find my deserted place with You so that I can experience showers of refreshing? I’m ready for my strength and my passion to be renewed. In Jesus' Name. Amen.