Hello friends, welcome to Embolden. I'm Chris Shatter, an ordinary Christian living with and learning about an extraordinary God. In the book of Jude we read about the grumblers and the fault-finders following their own evil desires and boasting about themselves. I find the best way not to be a grumbler and a fault-finder which I struggle with is instead to look for ways to be thankful and grateful.
That's why on the Embolden podcast we're doing 30 Days of Thankfulness. Please join me. Today's verse comes from Mark 631. Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to him, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.
After a busy Thanksgiving, taking relatives to the airport and doing some holiday shopping, my husband and older daughter and I took a day off from all the busyness and played golf. Well, I suppose you could call what I played golf, even though it didn't go so well. But it was sure nice to get out with them and enjoy a relaxing and beautiful day. For a long time I struggled with resting, with just doing something fun that had no goal.
Before kids, my husband and I would spend Saturday running around doing errands and come Sunday I would start already stressing out about Monday's work flow. When my kids were younger, we always had sports on the weekends with tournaments lasting from Thursday until Sunday afternoon. But these last couple of years I'd finally take into the heart the idea of resting. Resting and enjoying all the blessings that God has gifted us.
Psalm 127 2 says, It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for he gives to his beloved sleep. Toiling and striving and anxiously lying awake thinking about how we can toil some more the next day. It's not good for our health and it's not the life God intended for us. You know, it's so sad that two major companies in the United States who made the choice to stay closed on Sundays have received so much grief in the media for that decision.
But the leaders of those companies are Christians who take the message and gift of the Sabbath to heart. I still catch myself feeling guilty for resting. I have to remind myself that it's not a luxury. It's a requirement by God.
Whether we are rich or poor with children or not, retired or still working, God wants us to be rested, ready to do his good works when needed. I'm so thankful for this gift of rest. It shows how much God loves us and wants the best for us. He wants you to be recharged and energized followers or followers of Jesus.
Not burned out, overworked, stressed and therefore unable to see how beautiful this world he created is. Unable to just stop and maybe help someone in need. So today on this Sabbath Day, take this gift of rest freely. Take time for yourself and enjoy.
Have a thankful day. I hope you enjoyed this episode of The A Bolden Podcast. Be sure to follow along so you don't miss any episode. And check out my blog at embolden.net.