I had a wonderful rest over the holidays and feel like a new person. Every time I have these periods of rest, I think…

“Why don’t I incorporate more times of rest into my regular routine?”

“Why do I let myself get so depleted?”

Have you ever wondered that about yourself? What is it about our human nature, that we run so fast and hard?

In the fast pace of life, we lose our awareness of God.  Even though He is always with us, we get distracted and lose our sense of His presence and peace.

It isn’t just about physical activity either. It is an amazing number of racing thoughts in our minds. They don’t shut off!

Is there a way out of this?

Yes, God invites us, “Come with Me and rest.”

Jesus knew to withdraw to quiet places often. He encouraged His disciples to come away with Him and rest.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

Resting with God is like a calming salve for an overactive mind. It can also be compared to closing one application, one window at a time, on your computer or phone. Just too much going on. When we come to Him, He helps us shut down the competing venues that are dulling our awareness of His presence.

So, in talking with God, together we are going to include more empty spaces of rest in each day. Three times a day I have an alarm set to STOP and REST in His presence.

So, that’s my battle and that’s the strategy I feel He has shown me.

Your battle maybe something different. Pause now and ask,

Lord, is there anything distracting me from a sense of Your presence and peace?

What is the strategy You have for today?

Enjoy your conversation with the One who knows you most and loves you best.

Walking on the pathway of Joy,

Shell

Bonus quote:

“A life without a lonely place, that is, a life without a quiet center easily becomes destructive. When we cling to the results of our actions as our only way of self-identification, then we become possessive and defensive and tend to look at our fellow human beings more as enemies to be kept at a distance than as friends with whom we share the gift of life. In solitude we can slowly unmask the illusion of our possessiveness and discover in the center of our own self that we are not what we can conquer, but what is given to us.” Henri Nouwen