Discipline of resting

Speaker: Paul Brown

Notes

Life is often so busy we have to make ourselves take a rest or step back for a while. Biblical precedent - God in creation (Gen 2:2), Jesus after feeding the 5000 (Matt 14:22-23).

Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Jobs need to be done and preparations have to be made, but there is a right time for sitting at Jesus' feet. Learn to discern the right time.

Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline describes the discipline of solitude. Not loneliness, but inner peace. Being non-dependent on noise, activity and people.

Some reasons why we don't rest enough: too busy, too tired, too grumpy, too indispensable. Or are we too scared of what we might discover?

Suggestions:

• Redeem the short moments, in between tasks, when travelling, etc. Focus on God

• Have a special quiet place where you can go

• Have a day without words, or without your computer or your mobile phone...

• Planned times of reflection and refocussing. Maybe an evening or a day. Set and review personal goals, press meaning into life...

• Just slow down a bit - does it really need to be done?

More about being than doing. Don't add this to your To Do list as yet another task!

God's promises:

• God's love leads to rest and security (Deut 33:12)

• The fear of the Lord brings rest, contentment and immunity to trouble (Prov 19:23)

• Jesus gives us rest if we'll just come to him (Matt 11:28)

Application

Do you ever feel like you've "lost the God-song" in your life and do you know what you need to do to get it back?

Do you have particular places or times or activities that you know will bring you closer to God or help you focus on him? Do you ever plan in "prayer days" or special times to set and review goals? Is that helpful or do you think it could be?

How would you feel about a day without speaking? Or without your mobile? What would be the thing that would most test your dependence on God alone?

What are you going to do about it?

Posted: 9 Mar 2008