How to Find Rest in God

Always rushing around from one task to another. Constantly busy. On the job 24/7. As Americans, we're busier than ever, filling our lives with constant motion and tasks to be accomplished. Even we Christians fall into the trap of over-scheduling, over-doing and over-committing our time and resources.

Re-discover the antidote to busyness by finding rest in God.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Start With Jesus
   Jesus is the ultimate example of rest. Read again Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." We want to be fruit bearers (John 15), so we tend to be more active and more busy but less and less productive.

2. Seek the Calm
   In Matthew 8:23-27, the passage where Jesus calms the storm, may be the best example of how important rest is. The text shows Jesus backing away to get rest even though people still wanted him to heal and to minister to their needs. We don't need to always say yes to everything we're asked to do. We can take a step back and perhaps do less but with more purpose.

3. Be Time Stewards
   Sometimes we get waylaid by our own busyness. We see everyone else hurrying around and we feel like we need to join the race, too. Christians have forgotten that we need to stewards of our time as well. Our time belongs not to us, but to God, as C.S. Lewis states. We need to remember that we should manage time to please God, not man.

4. Silencing the Taskmasters
   The first way to overcome distractions hindering us from finding rest in God is to silence the taskmasters in our minds. Just be still and let your mind be at rest. Watch out for getting caught up in serving, which can distract us from resting in God.

5. Cultivating Rest
   To rest in God, we need to develop a Sabbath heart and a Sabbath day. Resting on Sunday can show that we believe God will give us the energy, time and provisions to do what needs to be accomplished in other six days of the week. To cultivate rest in God, become aware that you need to rest. Develop a clear picture of what you want your life to look like. Then write down how you will accomplish that goal.

6. Stopping to Smell the Roses
   To rest in God gives us such freedom from busyness. It reminds us that there is more to life than just doing. It restores our soul and gives us the strength to get through another week. It revitalizes our relationship with God and with others.
   
   One day, Philip Melanchthon turned to Martin Luther and announced, "Today, you and I shall discuss the governance of the universe." Luther looked at Melanchthon and replied, "No. Today, you and I shall go fishing, and leave the governance of the universe to God."
   
   Rest in God means taking the time to stop and enjoy the roses-and leave the big stuff to God.

Tips & Warnings

• Vacation R&R Family vacations can be a great way to rest and relax from busyness. Vacations also can provide needed time of reflection on resting in God. If you need to get a jumpstart on resting in God, try these tips while on vacation this summer.
• See God in His creation.
• Begin or re-start family devotions.
• Leave your work at home.
• Reflect on your life.