Dear friends in Christ,
The summer offers many of us a slower pace than usual. If that’s you, I hope you are savoring the time!
When we think of Christian spiritual disciplines, practices such as regular prayer, scripture study, and church attendance might come to mind first. But we should recall another vital spiritual discipline, one that our Lord himself practiced. We must rest.
Taking time to delight in the many blessings God has given us is profoundly counter-cultural. We are bombarded by non-stop messages about accomplishing tasks and consuming goods. When we practice true rest, we are doing neither of those things. Simply savoring the blessings we already have, including life itself, is more than enough.
When God finished creation, he rested. That alone would be enough to sanctify rest. But there’s plenty more in the Bible. The Old Testament commands rest several times in several ways. Jesus himself followed the law in his own life, resting from the work of his ministry.
I encourage you to take time—perhaps weekly, perhaps daily— to rest. Find a comfy spot indoors or outdoors and…do nothing more than resting. No devices, no books, no emails, no tasks. Just rest.
Resting is a way to thank God for our creation and preservation. And it is a way to refresh ourselves to take on this weary time.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
More from our ministry:
Pre-order today: Gospel Voices, our new Advent devotional
Make rest a part of your Rule of Life: The Way of Love Practical Guide
Take prayer and reflection wherever you go: Forward Day by Day