The Seventh Day

“You are not a low-key person,” my husband pointed out to me this past week. He is right. I like to work and be productive. I feel angst when I don’t have a plan or schedule for the day. And no matter what, I wash the dishes before heading off to bed. But in the second chapter of the Bible, God includes this crucial concept: Rest. “And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation.” (Genesis 2:2-3). If God rested from His work, so should we. 

This resting is not easy. Frankly, it can be scary. “I’ll just be more overwhelmed the next day if I rest”, or “I’ll lose my momentum”, or “People might think I’m lazy.” I don’t know your reason, those are just some of mine. But I do know that the antidote for fear is trust. And since “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18a), we can trust God’s love to cover for us while we rest and when we return to work. 

Perhaps there’s another reason that you struggle to rest. Any other day, I would love to dig deeper on that subject, but right now, what God has been telling me all day, is that I need to rest. So without further ado, please let’s pray together for God’s rest in all of our lives.

God, My Dad, My King, My Helper. Thank you for the wonderful assignments You’ve placed before me. They are gifts, and I truly enjoy doing them to the best of Your ability (not my own). Recently though, I’ve been struggling to do them well because I’ve forgotten to take time to rest. I’m sorry. I repent. Thank you for Your forgiveness and please help me to regularly remember to rest. 

I pray for those reading this prayer today that You also remind them to rest and help us all rest well. Teach us how to rest and not simply waste idol time. Because Your true rest is rejuvenating. Thank you for setting an example in Your creation for us. As we rest, let it be our act of worship. All glory and honor and praise to You, Jesus. Amen.

“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”