February 17, 2014
Good Morning!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Our memory verse for this week is one of those passages that really speaks to my hectic lifestyle. I find if I’m not careful and diligent, I can allow too many activities to cut into my time spent with God. How about you?
Our focus for Week 3: The Wonder of Rest.
On Day 1, we inventoried our physical, spiritual and emotional state and evaluated how we spent our time over the past week. Our purpose was to discover if we took time to reflect and rejuvenate ourselves during the week. While doing this lesson, I discovered that I have some areas that need a little streamlining. I used to overextend myself with commitments and activities to the point that I met myself coming and going. Over the years, however, I’ve learned to be more thoughtful about what I say ‘yes’ to so that I can have more time to rest and more time for God. Did you discover any changes you could make to your schedule?
Our Day 2 lesson dealt with sleep deprivation and the importance of having enough physical rest. We looked at the correlation between a lack of rest and our ability to handle temptations. I know when I haven’t had enough sleep I easily become irritable, I often fall asleep during prayer, and I have no willpower with junk food. Without proper rest, my ability to resist these things and to pursue the things of God is low.
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
Jesus knew the value of a little quiet time and called His followers to join Him in experiencing it. I think He was helping them to understand that in order to pour out to others in service, you have to pour refreshment into yourself. The best cure is time spent with Him.
Our focus on Day 3 centered on the art of saying ‘no’. We looked at 10 possible reasons why we find it so difficult to say no. We also identified the kinds of requests or situations that are the hardest to respond that way. Margaret Feinberg suggested 7 ways to help us establish healthier boundaries. The requests that come from family members are some of the hardest for me. Amen, anyone?
On Day 4, we formulated a list of activities that make us feel more relaxed and rested and we also recorded the last time we engaged in them. These activities are ones that bring a sense of joy and life back into our spirits. They rejuvenate and re-energize us.
Our last lesson on Day 5 centered on the Sabbath, the holy gift of God. We took a biblical journey through the scriptures that introduced the concept of a Sabbath to the people of God. We learned that the Sabbath challenged the people {and us} to trust God.
Some questions to consider:
- Have I ever felt guilty for making time to care for myself? If so, how do I respond to the sense of guilt?
- What does loving your neighbor as yourself as described in Mark 12:30,31 mean to me? Do I think I can truly love my neighbor if I don’t love myself?
- When have I failed to care for myself and found myself caring for people less?
- How does observing the Sabbath challenge me to trust God for His provision in my life ?
- Based on Hebrews 4:9-11, how can I be more intentional in my life to establish healthy rhythms in my work, relationships, and daily schedule to seize the life God has for me?
This week, we begin Week 4: The Wonder of Prayer.
You’re awesome! You have made it to the halfway mark in our study. Keep learning and growing in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has amazing, wonder filled things to reveal to you.
Blessings,
Mimi
