Now that Christmas is over we look to the New Year with excitement. 2013 is closing and 2014 is at hand. For many of us this means New Years resolutions. We often resolve to do more this coming year than we did the past year. As Believers, we often resolve to read the Bible more, to pray more, to go to church more, and to serve more. Also making our “to do” list is spending more time with family, more time exercising and of course more time eating right.
But, I want to suggest that we “undo” our “to do” list. That we put all that behind one key “to do”, and that is to REST in the Lord. We often get so busy doing for the Lord that we forget to rest with Him, alone in a quiet place of solitude. Someone once said; "Meditation is the Sunday of the mind." In our busy times we need to give our minds to a "Sunday"...a time of rest in which we do no work, but instead we are simply still before God...looking to heaven and soaking in the rays of Sonshine. Many times these are forced by the Lord. We may end up sick in bed and then we are forced to be still and look up. When Elijah had just slain the 400 prophets of Baal and was running in fear and excitement, it says that he ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel (1 Kings 18:46). But, the run had been too much for him and took all of his strength, causing him to become depressed. As Elijah sat under a broom tree he asked that he might die. But God had another plan for Elijah… God’s plan was to get Elijah to the place of rest and refreshment. As Elijah sat alone, tired and hungry he became depressed. When we experience a time of great victory in our lives as believers, we can be met by the enemy with fear, and despair. This can cause a heavy depression much like Elijah, where we feel alone and there, we can become defeated. BUT GOD was with Elijah all along…in his victory, on his run, and under the tree.
What Elijah failed to see is that he was exactly where God wanted him… “Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.”(1 Kings 19:5-8)
Are you tired today? Are you feeling worn out and weary? Are you feeling alone? You are not alone…God is with you. HE will give you strength when you need it. HE will supply all you stand in need of. HE will provide nourishment for your hungry soul. As with Elijah, the refreshment and nourishment which would sustain him was not in the battle, nor in the victory, it was under the tree when he was alone with God and sleeping that he was touched. If you are running around today, stop, and get alone somewhere with God. Rest in Him and allow him to touch your weary soul. He is all the food we need to sustain us. Let your New Years Resolution be one of R&R in Him. You will find that you will accomplish much more when you attempt less, and spend more time in quiet rest waiting upon God. Resolve to have your diet be the Word of God and your exercise be that of quiet solitude before Him. As you stop doing and start resting you will be blessed and bear much fruit in this coming year!
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