Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Woodrow Kroll
Rest
My schedule is not the greatest at all. I put in too many hours and have unexpected emergencies, accidents, hospital visits, weddings, funerals, sermons, Bible studies. And, oh yeah, I have a family, too, and also a job. Sometimes in my stubbornness, God has to allow me to reap my own consequences and I get run-down and sick. Usually it’s just a day or two; but the point is, we are often our own worst enemies and don’t know when to rest. Jesus saw what was happening to the disciples, as they barely had time enough to eat and rest. So He said, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat” (Mark 6:31).
Rejuvenate
After you rest for a while, then you’re somewhat rejuvenated. It’s does a body good to step back, unplug, turn off the phone, and take a walk. There is something about the beauty of nature that makes us think of God and His glory because He is the One Who created it all. Rest in Him; rejuvenate your soul. Even Jesus “withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place” (Matthew 14:13). On another occasion, Jesus, “rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Refresh
The Word of God does a lot to refresh my mind. It is always alive and active and cuts like a knife (Hebrews 4:12), but it cuts in order to heal and cuts that which needs to be cut. This brings about spiritual growth in me. When the Spirit of God and the Word of God work together, it is such a breath of fresh air, as if to refresh mind, body, and soul.
Rejoice
After you’ve taken time to rest, rejuvenate, and refresh yourself, you can now rejoice. God can use minds that are rested, rejuvenated, and refreshed. When we do too much, we end up doing less than if we had rested in the first place. In other words, a rested, rejuvenated, and refreshed worker is much more capable of doing more and doing it better, even if it’s for the Lord and His glory.
Conclusion
Take Mr. Kroll’s advice and remember, “if your life is an uphill slope, set your sails to catch God’s power.” Don’t be your own worst enemy. Get rest, be rejuvenated, refresh your mind and body, and rejoice before the Lord, just as the Apostle wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
