Rest and Recovery
Genesis 2:1–2, 7; Exodus 20:8–11; Psalm 23:2–3; 62:1–2; 127:1–2; Isaiah 40:28–31; Matthew 11:28–30; John 20:22
DIGGING DEEPER
KEY QUOTES:
"If you don't rest well, you won't finish well. If you don't recover well, you won't perform well."
"Even though God never sleeps or slumbers, He sets the example that we are to follow and rest at least one day a week."
"There are times God's people need to wait, need to hope, need to slow down and let the Lord renew them."
"If we want to live life well, we will focus on our every breath coming from the Lord."
As believers, we need to rest and recover to be in tune with God and to fulfill His plans for us optimally. We need time to relax, refresh and recover to align and be in step with God as we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
According to the dictionary, rest is to "cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself or recover strength." The definition of recovery is the "return to a normal state of health, mind or strength."
As human beings, we can naturally experience overwhelming tiredness, despair and burdens. Life and what we are going through can bear down on us and keep us awake at night, increase stress levels, cause us to be short and grumpy, and even be scared and unsure. If we are not careful, we can look for temporary, easy fixes for rest and renewal.
But proper rest and recovery come when we know our strength comes from the Lord. We can't stop the storms that come our way, but we can get ourselves prepared for them. We can build a firm foundation on Jesus Christ and plant our roots in good soil that will allow us to grow in a healthy manner spiritually, emotionally and physically. As God's word is embedded in our hearts, we can fall back on God's promises when troubles come. We know and can be confident that God will provide, love, sustain and give us rest and recovery.
As we grow spiritually, we learn that rest isn't external but is created internally through our faith and relationship with Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus states, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
As we seek rest and recovery, we have faith that God will provide wisdom and guidance on how to rest best and recover. Trust in God and His word. Remember that God created everything, including the need to rest. God rested and enjoyed His work, His creation. So should we!
WHAT NOT TO MISS
The main point:
Moments of rest and recovery are needed to renew and restore your machine (your body) so that it will go the distance.
Three ways God wants you to rest and recover so that you can be renewed and restored:
1. You need to adopt God's rhythms of rest. (Genesis 2:1-2)
Three Rhythms of Rest (Rhythms of rest allow the body to be strengthened inwardly from what the body did and received outwardly.)
Day and night. (Work/day and sleep/night)
Sabbathing. (Weekly rest)
Sabbatical-ing. (Extended seasons of rest)
Principle: Adopting God's rhythms of rest restores and renews us to
participate in God's mission of redemption.
2. You need to accept you need seasons of slow. (Isaiah 40:28-31; Matthew 11:28-30)
Reasons why you will need to slow down and wait on God.
Wait on the Lord for a second wind.
Wait on the Lord to be your strength.
Wait on the Lord to be your stability and sustainability.
Principle:
Waiting on the Lord prevents weariness in life.
3. You need to ascertain the right bouts of breathing. (Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4; John 20:22; Psalm 46:10)
YHWH, the covenant name for God, equals an onomatopoeia for breath.
To breathe in and to breathe out, to inhale and exhale, is to breathe in and breathe out the name of God.
As believers, we have to learn to breathe right. This breathing is not talking about physically breathing but about breathing right spiritually.
Spiritually shallow breathing is a reliance on yourself; spiritually deep, intentional breathing is dependency on the Lord.
Principle:
How well we breathe is tied to how well we live.
Conclusion:
When you adopt the rhythms of rest, accept the seasons of slow and
ascertain the bouts of breathing, you holistically bring rest and recovery
to your life, which allows your life to be renewed and restored so that you can continue to run the race with perseverance.
Where do you need rest and recovery?
LIFE APPLICATION
This week, seek out time for rest and recovery. Start with resting, breathing spiritually and being with God for 5 minutes with no distractions. See if you can lengthen this time, but spend at least this minimum daily. Here are some additional ideas to rest, restore and recharge spiritually this week:
Take a Sabbath day off.
Pray.
Read scripture.
Spend time in nature appreciating God's creation. Practice spiritual breathing.
List your blessings and give gratitude to God.
Sing a favorite Christian song or hymn, praising God.
Enjoy a restful favorite meal with family or friends, being fully present with them.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What are your rhythms of rest?
What does the Bible teach about rest and the Sabbath?
Why do you think rest was important for God to practice?
How do you spiritually deep breathe?
How does what the Bible teaches about rest contrast with what the world teaches about busyness?
DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE PASSAGES
Day 1: Rest from Labor - Genesis 2:3; Psalm 23:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11
Day 2: Rest from Anxiety - Proverbs 3:23-24; Isaiah 26:3; Mark 4:38-39
Day 3: Rest from Sorrow - Isaiah 14:3; Isaiah 57:18-19; Psalm 147:3
Day 4: Rest from Sickness - Exodus 23:25; Jeremiah 17:14; Corinthians 4:16
Day 5: Recovery - Psalm 51:10-12; Psalm 73:26; Matthew 11:29
PRAYER
Lord, I need rest and recovery in my life. My heartfelt desire for rest is strong, but I know I often seek rest superficially in the way the world seeks rest. Instead of seeking proper rest that only comes from You, I wander around, trying to find rest in my own way. Let the Holy Spirit fill me and teach me how to breathe and be genuinely restful in You spiritually. Help me recover from my restlessness and give me proper rest, which only King Jesus can provide. As I seek You in all things, let me be a witness to the world, showing them how You created rest and how much You love me and want the best for me. May I fully trust and rest in You, my God, and my strength and refuge in all things.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
-Book Summary on “Breath,” by James Nestor
