Stress and Rest

Stress and Rest

Let all that I am wait patiently before God, for my hope is in Him.
Psalm 62:5

Is there ever a time when you look around your desk, peruse your planner, or check your phone and shrug and think, Well, I guess there's nothing for me to do today?

Is there ever a moment when you can't think of anything that could use your attention? If you are a homeowner, then certainly not. If you are a mom, a teacher, a business owner, or a volunteer who cares for others, you are bombarded daily, if not more often. There is always something vying for your attention.

You inhabit an interconnected world that never slows down and never shuts off. The world tempts you to stay up late watching the news, or surfing the Internet, or checking out social media, or gaming, or doing countless other activities that gobble up your time and distract you. But too much late-night screen time robs you of something you need very badly: sleep.

 Are you going to bed at a reasonable hour and sleeping through the night?  If so, you're both wise and blessed. But if you're staying up late with your eyes glued to a screen, overthinking problems, are getting one last thing done, then you're putting your long-term health at risk. And you're probably wasting time too. So, the next time you're tempted to engage in wasting time late at night, resist the temptation. Instead, turn your thoughts and prayers to God. And when you're finished, turn off the lights and go to bed. You need rest.

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Psalm 90:12 – “So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”

In Psalm 90 we are given Psalm by Moses!  While Moses did not write many Psalms, what he gives us as the Word of God is wisdom for life. This verse reminds us to recognize the brevity of life and to live intentionally, valuing each day as a gift from God.

We are reminded in the devotion above that there are many distractions in this world.  Some come to us from life itself, while others are of our own making.  The statistics on the number of hours young men spend on video gaming is astounding.  Even our small children are being taught at a young age that the “screen” is their best friend.

When most of us were younger, we spent hours outdoors.  Now a young person is rarely seen outside, playing with their friends.  I will say this bluntly!!!  This is not good!

Each one of us are given only a set number of days.  None of us can say with certainty we will live through this day or wake up tomorrow.  We are encouraged by God to make the most of every moment we are given in this life, and to invest ourselves into what has eternal value!

The Apostle Paul echoes same sentiment as Moses when he writes the following;
“So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”  Ephesians 5:15-16

Here, Paul emphasizes living wisely and seizing opportunities to do good, reflecting God’s love in a world full of distractions.  In Paul’s mind, the opportunities we should be seeking are those which have eternal significance.

I am not saying we need to spend 24/7 serving in the church.  What I am saying is that there is more to life than playing video games or watching TV.  We need to spend our days investing in relationships.  There are people I know who live for days with absolutely zero communication with other human beings.  There are times a simple phone call and make an amazing difference in a person’s life.

The encouragement of our devotion today is to make wise choices for our lives.  The choice of a good night’s sleep is the place to begin. Then, while the sun shines, make the most of the opportunities given to you.  If you don’t see the opportunity readily presenting itself, then make one!  There is no better time than now to impact a person’s life with the love of God in Christ.

Blessings to you,
Pastor Russ