Monday's Marriage Moment -- Rest is a Weapon!

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.
Psalm 27:1 – 2

Am I the only one who has a lot to do? Of course, I am not. Our schedules are full. We get up early, and we stay up late. We work at our jobs or at our businesses, we run errands, we visit friends and family, we serve in our community, and we participate in our church activities. Just look at the agenda for your week ahead. Is there something on almost everyday? There is for me.

We are busy, and we are tired. Think about it. Have you heard yourself say those very words over the last week -- I am tired? Most of us can admit that we have said them multiple times. We have said them because they are true. By the time we get home from one thing it is time to leave home for another thing. Even when our bodies are at rest our minds are not. We are tired.

I don't think God is pleased with our busyness. Actually, I know that He isn't. We are buying into our culture's hype -- we have to "grind" and "hustle". Yet, God didn't design us to do that. Yes, we have to work, but we also have to rest. See, the enemy is using our busyness to render us ineffective. He can't take our salvation, but he can wear us out and frustrate us so that we don't reap or walk in the benefits of that salvation. When we are tired we are unable to think clearly. We make decisions based on feelings. We are easily upset or offended. When we are fatigued we often don't display Christian attitudes and behaviors.

So, God's word for us today is rest because rest is a weapon. It is a strategic, offensive weapon that we must wield very carefully. We must know how to rest and when to rest. Our bodies need rest so that it can heal itself. Our minds need rest so that we can think rationally. Rest is just as important as activity. We have to stop working ourselves to the point of exhaustion and thinking someone should give us a gold star for doing so. You want to be a better wife? Take a few moments to rest. You want to be a better husband? Take the time to rest. You want to be more effective in ministry? Rest. Rest. Rest. Jesus Himself took the time to get away from the crowd and rest.

So, receive this permission today to rest. Sit back and close your eyes. Quiet your mind. Take a nap if you need to. Say no if you have to. Psalm 127:2 says God gives His beloved sleep. Whatever you do, take the time to rest. Rest is a weapon. Use it well!