Episode #20 Can I really Resolve to Rest More? – Rest More Resolution

Welcome friends! I'm Jen and not only am I grateful to be your podcast host, I'm also a fellow listener. It took some work for me to get comfortable listening to my voice recordings here, but I love having conversations with God, so when I started this podcast, I would talk with God as I prepared each episode. I'd then ask him the question of the day, and talk with him about it, and then talk with him about it again when recording. And every time God and I would talk about something different. There's always something new going on in my life, or something new he wants to talk with me about. So I also go back and listen with you as the episodes air and ask God the question again. Every single time the conversation draws me closer to him.

I share that with you because it doesn't matter if talking with God is brand new to you, or if you're already talking with him all the time. There are always new conversations and connections to be had.

I also bring this up here, because I need to learn to rest more. This is a personal journey I'm on with you, and I can find a lot of reasons why "more rest" just doesn't naturally fit in my life.

Just looking at my packed schedule, big dreams, or development goals feels like proof enough. I have a lot going on. I also like to have a lot going on. When I find space in my calendar, I fill it with something. I have several to-do lists going on all the time, and I'm also painfully aware of the many things I need to do but haven't gotten to yet. I'm a woman on a mission and so when I think about maximizing my time, my thoughts typically go to "work smarter not harder" instead of "work hard rest well."

I like to work and I'm excited about what I do. So as I looked at my goal planning a few weeks ago, knowing that God has been talking with me about rest, I actually asked him, "God, can I really resolve to rest more?"

He had me turn to Psalm 23 and God reminded me that rest doesn't mean I'm inactive. As I read the psalm from the New Living Translation, try to notice the actions and movement described in these verses.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

forever.

Sometimes rest includes laying down. Other times it's in how we walk, where we sit, how we're strengthened, where we go, what we pay attention to, and how we journey with God.

What if we're working so hard to prepare a feast, but God wants us to sit down at the table so he can provide it for us instead?

Let's ask him about it. God, how are you inviting me to rest today?

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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