Rest Fitness

Rest is a crucial component of fitness. In our younger years, it's in our sleep that we grow taller. The rhythm of work and rest is necessary for long-term health and spiritual power. How is your rest fitness? Keep Reading...

Genesis 2:2-3 NIV - By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Some think it is more spiritual to work non-stop, to burn the candle at both ends in work, ministry or hobbies. This is not God's best for us. He calls us to practice resting. God himself models this for us on Day 7 of creation. The One with the limitless source of energy chose to rest. So can you.

How to rest well? … that's another question. It's nice having a good sleep-in. But, will sleep alone give you the real rest you need? During your time off, what do you spend your hours doing? Netflix, surfing the internet, or Insta-Snap-Face-Tubing? We get excited about our time off, thinking that these hours are MINE.

But, really, how rested do you feel after binge-watching Netflix for 8 hours? How about after surfing the internet / social media for several hours… do you actually feel more rested? Typically, our great strategies to rest end up draining us.

Movies, the internet, social media can be fine outlets for rest if Jesus remains Lord over our time. He knows what will bring real life to us. Why don't you ask him for boundaries around your "rest activities"? The greatest source of rest comes in submitting to Jesus. Our souls get fed.

When our rest times become "ME" times without paying attention to God's loving boundaries, we get drained. In fact, the very times intended for great refreshment end up weighing our spirits down. To practice rest fitness, we need to make Jesus Lord over our off times.

He will show you the proper rhythms of sleep, worship, movies, social media, fun-filled hang-outs, etc. Don't assume you know how to rest well. Get fit by asking Jesus and following his rest fitness plan for you!