Rest

Hello to my 💓 (heartbeats), 

“God finished the work he was doing, so on the seventh day he rested from his work. God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day. He made it special because on that day he rested from all the work he did while creating the world.”

Genesis 2:2-3 ERV 

In Exodus 16, it explicitly states that the sabbath day is designated as Saturday! Throughout the book of Exodus, there is a consistent emphasis on the significance of keeping this day holy by dedicating it to rest and reflection. This practice is not merely a suggestion but a divine command that highlights the importance of pausing our daily labors. At the very beginning of creation, God made a profound decision: after creating the heavens, the earth, and all living beings, He deemed everything He created as good, and on the seventh day, He chose to rest! If our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe, took a day to rest and refrained from work, how essential must it be for us, His creations, to also take time to rest and rejuvenate? 

Failing to incorporate rest into our lives can lead to a cascade of negative effects. Without adequate rest, we may find ourselves lacking the mental clarity needed to navigate the complexities of life, which in turn hampers our ability to make sound decisions. The consequences of neglecting rest often manifest as burnout, leaving us feeling drained and overwhelmed. Moreover, when we are deprived of rest, our creativity diminishes, our patience wears thin, and our capacity for empathy diminishes significantly. The absence of restorative breaks can make us more susceptible to stress, leading to increased irritability and frustration in our interactions with others. In essence, when we neglect to observe a day of rest, we not only hinder our own well-being but also fall short of embodying the Christ-like qualities we aspire to reflect in our daily lives. Furthermore, we risk missing out on precious opportunities to worship and deepen our intimacy with the Father, who longs to connect with us in moments of stillness and reflection. Therefore, let us collectively embrace a day of rest as a sacred time to honor, worship, love, and celebrate our Creator! Father, we express our gratitude for providing us with a guide on how to navigate this life! We thank You for the precious opportunity to rest and for the chance to grow in our relationship with You. Your goodness is immeasurable! May we continually strive to honor You by resting and adhering to Your commands! Please instill in us a deep desire to follow Your teachings and commandments! Thank you for this beautiful life You have given us! We love You always, Father! In Jesus' name, Amen.