“Sometimes You Just Gotta Take a Nap” by Worship Pastor Lori Willey 12/3/12

Rest is a necessary part of life.  However, if you are anything like me you may treat it as optional at times.  Yesterday, my Pastor was talking about rest in his sermon.  I started thinking about the significance of both natural and spiritual rest.  Isn’t it interesting that we can tend to feel guilty for taking rest?  The enemy only gets away with that accusation if we are unaware of its importance and what God’s Word says about the matter.

Psalm 121:4 (AMP)^Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

In Mark 4:35-41, We can read of Jesus in the boat taking a rest.

I want to point out just a few interesting things …

• Jesus knew when to rest … Any other fellow night owls out there other than me who need to take a note from Jesus on this one?
• When awoke by the fear of the disciples, Jesus was able to respond with refreshed authority and renewed faith because He laid down with the understanding that His Father doesn’t sleep on the job!  The Message translation says that the wind ran out of breath!  Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to see Jesus leave a storm helpless, speechless, and unable to communicate the fear it had been sent to proclaim.  It gives me chills.
• The Word says the disciples when they awoke him said “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  Here we see the enemy doing what he does best … ACCUSE.  Jesus paid no mind to this accusation.  He knew better.

When we aren’t rested sometimes we blame God or others for the mess we are in.  In essence we let the storm take the wind out of our “faith”.   A rested and refreshed mind has Faith authority in God to take the wind out of a storm.

So what does rest look like for us today?  Rest is a refreshed spirit and a whole body.   Take a look at Matthew 11:28-30 ….28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Having a working knowledge of the Word of God and his nature enables us to rest in faith that He will not slumber or sleep.  He is ever working on our behalf and we can rest in Him!