Rest Stop

           

            STOP! 

            “God wants you to stop.”

            “He wants you to suspend all ministry activities as well as your job search. No blogging. Just journaling. The Lord says, “Run, run to me and find the freedom you so fervently desire. Be still and know that I am the God who created you and who loves you everlasting and never ending.”

            These were some of the words from a friend of a friend who claims to have the gift of prophecy.  Being the skeptical person I am, I asked God to confirm the message in another way. The next day my Bible study was about Mary and Martha.  The following day the teaching was about the importance of resting.  The same day a daily devotional I read focused on the importance of solitude and serenity.

            This was what author Margaret Feinberg labels “a sacred echo.”

            God wanted me to temporarily cease and desist. To surrender my schedule to him.

            So I did it.  I expanded my quiet time beyond the thirty-forty minutes I gave it in the morning. I stopped my feverish search for a job and instead feverishly searched for the Lord’s buried treasure in His Word.  I began to dig deep into God’s Word again like I used to in my Bible classes in seminary. I longed to hear what he wanted to tell me.     

            It felt good.

            My batteries began to recharge.

            I had forgotten what it was like to spend hours alone with my Abba Father. In my expanded time alone with him, he gave me new truths from his Word, filling up my journal and my spiritual well. The way I was going, I would not have been able to continue on an empty tank.  God knew that and had to set up a road block to make me pull off and refill.

            Has the Lord ever told you to rest? Do you run, run, run with work and activities instead of run, run, running to God?

            Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

            The world is moving at a faster pace than our human bodies can withstand. On a regular basis, we have to intentionally take a step back to receive the refueling we need. A sports car might be able to do 0 to 60 in under seven seconds but without gas, it’s not going anywhere.

            Jesus led a very busy ministry but took time to pull away from the crowd to be alone with his Father. We need to learn from Him.

            What about you?

            Are you tired?

            Are you emotionally depleted?

            Is your “to do” list more than you can handle?

            Are you searching for clear direction?

            Then take the advice I received.

            Stop.

            Throw yourself into the arms of your loving father from above and

            listen.

            Dear child of God, he’s waiting for you with open arms.