Embracing Rest: A Spiritual Discipline of Trust

 

Summary

Taking time to rest and reflect is an essential practice for maintaining a healthy and balanced life. It is important to intentionally schedule periods of rest where there is nothing to do. This practice allows for a sense of control and peace over one's responsibilities. By going to bed each night with the mindset that all work for the day is complete, we acknowledge that God has given us enough time to accomplish what He requires of us. This is a reflection of His goodness and love as a Father.

The key is to cultivate an attitude where unfinished work does not weigh us down. This involves trusting that God has provided sufficient time for each day's tasks. By practicing this mindset, we can work diligently while also ensuring that we have moments of rest. These moments are not just about physical rest but are acts of faith, demonstrating trust in God's provision and timing.

Creating these periods of rest is not about finding time but making time. It requires a deliberate decision to step away from work and engage in activities that bring joy without the pressure of productivity. This intentional rest leads to increased fruitfulness in other areas of life, as it allows for rejuvenation and a fresh perspective.

In essence, taking time to rest is a spiritual discipline that aligns us with God's rhythm for our lives. It is a declaration of faith, trusting that God will respond to our obedience with His grace and provision.

Key Takeaways:

1. Intentional Rest: Scheduling intentional periods of rest is crucial for maintaining balance and control over our responsibilities. This practice is not about finding time but making time, which requires a deliberate decision to step away from work. [00:17]

2. Mindset of Completion: Going to bed with the mindset that all work for the day is complete reflects trust in God's provision. This attitude acknowledges that God has given us enough time to accomplish what He requires, demonstrating His goodness and love. [00:57]

3. Act of Faith: Taking time with nothing to do is a major act of faith. It is a declaration of trust in God's timing and provision, believing that He will respond to our obedience with grace and fruitfulness. [02:08]

4. Joyful Activities: Engaging in activities that bring joy without the pressure of productivity is essential. This practice allows for rejuvenation and a fresh perspective, leading to increased fruitfulness in other areas of life. [01:54]

5. Spiritual Discipline: Rest is a spiritual discipline that aligns us with God's rhythm for our lives. It is a practice that requires trust and obedience, resulting in peace and a deeper connection with God. [01:25]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Importance of Rest
[00:32] - Mindset of Completion
[00:43] - Trusting God's Timing
[00:57] - God's Provision
[01:09] - Balancing Work and Rest
[01:25] - Spiritual Discipline of Rest
[01:38] - Making Time for Joy
[01:54] - Increased Fruitfulness
[02:08] - Act of Faith in Rest

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 2:2-3 - "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
2. Matthew 11:28-30 - "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."
3. Psalm 127:2 - "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of having periods of rest with nothing to do? ([00:17])
2. How does the sermon describe the mindset we should have when going to bed each night? ([00:43])
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of engaging in joyful activities without the pressure of productivity? ([01:38])
4. How is taking time to rest described as an act of faith in the sermon? ([02:08])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of rest in Genesis 2:2-3 relate to the idea of intentional rest discussed in the sermon?
2. In what ways does Matthew 11:28-30 offer a perspective on rest that aligns with the sermon's message about trusting God's provision?
3. How might Psalm 127:2 challenge our modern understanding of productivity and rest?
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between rest and fruitfulness in our lives? ([01:54])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current schedule. Are there intentional periods of rest where you have nothing to do? If not, how can you create these moments in your week? ([00:17])
2. When you go to bed at night, do you feel a sense of completion with your day's work? If not, what changes can you make to cultivate this mindset? ([00:43])
3. Identify an activity that brings you joy without the pressure of productivity. How can you incorporate this into your routine as a form of rest? ([01:38])
4. Consider a time when you felt overwhelmed by unfinished tasks. How can trusting in God's provision help alleviate this burden? ([00:57])
5. How can you view rest as a spiritual discipline in your life, and what steps can you take to align your rest with God's rhythm for you? ([01:25])
6. Think about a recent situation where you felt the need to be constantly productive. How can you practice faith by intentionally stepping away from work? ([02:08])
7. What practical steps can you take this week to ensure that your rest leads to increased fruitfulness in other areas of your life? ([01:54])

Devotional

Day 1: Intentional Rest as a Sacred Pause
Taking intentional rest is a deliberate act of stepping away from the busyness of life to find balance and control over responsibilities. It is not about squeezing rest into an already packed schedule but about making a conscious decision to prioritize it. This practice allows individuals to experience peace and a sense of control over their tasks, acknowledging that there is a time for everything. By intentionally scheduling periods of rest, one can rejuvenate and gain a fresh perspective, leading to increased productivity and fulfillment in other areas of life. [00:17]

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: What specific time can you set aside this week to intentionally rest, and how will you protect this time from other demands?


Day 2: Trusting in God's Provision for Each Day
Adopting a mindset of completion involves trusting that God has provided enough time to accomplish what is necessary each day. This mindset allows individuals to go to bed with peace, knowing that they have done what was required. It reflects a deep trust in God's provision and timing, acknowledging His goodness and love. By embracing this attitude, one can release the burden of unfinished tasks and rest in the assurance that God is in control. [00:57]

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34, ESV)

Reflection: What is one task you can release to God today, trusting that He has given you enough time to complete what is truly necessary?


Day 3: Rest as an Act of Faith
Taking time to rest with nothing to do is a profound act of faith. It is a declaration of trust in God's timing and provision, believing that He will respond to our obedience with grace and fruitfulness. This practice requires letting go of the need to constantly be productive and instead embracing moments of stillness as a spiritual discipline. By doing so, individuals demonstrate their reliance on God and open themselves to His blessings. [02:08]

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate a moment of stillness into your day today as an act of faith, trusting in God's provision?


Day 4: Finding Joy in Non-Productive Activities
Engaging in activities that bring joy without the pressure of productivity is essential for rejuvenation and gaining a fresh perspective. These joyful moments allow individuals to step away from the demands of life and experience the simple pleasures that God provides. By intentionally making time for such activities, one can find renewed energy and creativity, leading to increased fruitfulness in other areas of life. [01:54]

"And he said to them, '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, ESV)

Reflection: What is one joyful activity you can engage in this week that is not tied to productivity, and how will it help you reconnect with God's joy?


Day 5: Rest as a Spiritual Discipline
Rest is a spiritual discipline that aligns individuals with God's rhythm for their lives. It requires trust and obedience, resulting in peace and a deeper connection with God. By practicing rest as a spiritual discipline, individuals declare their faith in God's provision and timing, allowing Him to work in their lives. This practice not only brings personal peace but also strengthens one's relationship with God. [01:25]

"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling." (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate rest as a spiritual discipline in your life this week, and what steps will you take to ensure it becomes a regular practice?

Quotes


A healthy pastor's schedule would have a couple or three lengthy periods of time when they had nothing to do, and if they will do that, they will find that they are coming into control of the whole shebang. But if you don't have times when you have nothing to do... [00:14:00]

Part of that practice is going to bed every night with your work completely done. Now that is an attitude, that's an attitude you can learn. When you lie down at night, you have no unfinished work. God gave you plenty of time to do everything he required you to do for that day. [00:41:00]

Why? Because he is a good and loving father. But we have to practice that. When you go to bed at night, your work is done. You don't have any undone work. That's a part of the whole process of getting in control of your work. You can work very hard. [01:01:00]

I work very hard, but I have times when I have nothing to do, and that's, I would say, a way to start. A way to start is to make sure you have two or three, two or three-hour periods through the week where you have nothing to do. [01:18:00]

Whatever you enjoy, but don't go at it as work, and if you do that, I think you will find yourself becoming incredibly more fruitful in everything else you do because you will have taken a stand. Because you see, you won't find that time with nothing to do. [01:45:00]

You will have made it, and when you take times with nothing to do, that is a major act of faith on your part, and when you make that act of faith, you will get a response. [02:05:00]

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Transcript
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