On Resting and Fighting

Much time has gone by since my last post and I am having a difficult time determining where all the days have gone. Life has been very full. A few days ago I did a breakdown of my typical week. Below is what I determined:

Hours in class: 32
Hours studying/doing school related work: 40
Hours at work: 12
Hours volunteering: 3
Hours sleeping: 56
Transportation: 5
Hours at the gym: 5
Total hours consumed: 153.

Total hours in a week: 24 x 7 = 168

This means I have 15 hours a week, or about 2 hours/day for "free" time, which seems fairly reasonable. However, a good portion of this time is spent on basic things like eating so in reality I probably have about 30 minutes of free time a day.

Needless to say it has been incredible to have a two week vacation from school and be able to rest. I've read 5 novels and have even slept in once or twice.

From one busy person to another: be deliberate in resting. Plan your breaks and time to rest first and do not compromise. Be selfish for those 30 or 60 or however many minutes you have a day. It is important.

Strangely enough I felt challenged to be more deliberate in resting because of something I studied in my physiology class. "A muscle will develop its maximum force when starting from resting length." I think the mind and spirit work like muscles do. I can develop maximum impact in school, ministry, my relationships, etc. when I am in a place of rest. If I am hyperextended I may be able to create impact for a short period of time but soon become fatigued. Conversely, if I do not challenge myself, my mind and spirit will atrophy. I will become weak and will not be able to create the impact I want to.

"A muscle will develop its maximum force when starting from resting length." So it is with my soul when I rest with You.

One of my favourite teachers told me once (regarding Hebrews 4) that "the fight is to remain in the rest." I've posted a portion from the passage below:

God's promise of enjoying his rest still stands. So be careful that none of you fails to receive it.

The good news was preached to our people long ago. It has also been preached to us. The message they heard didn't have any value for them. They didn't combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enjoy that rest.

God said, "When I was angry I took an oath. I said, 'They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.' " —(Psalm 95:11) Ever since God created the world, his work has been finished. Somewhere he spoke about the seventh day. He said, "On the seventh day God rested from all his work."—(Genesis 2:2)

In the part of Scripture I talked about earlier God said, "They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them."—(Psalm 95:11)

It is still true that some will enjoy that rest. But those who had the good news preached to them earlier didn't go in. That was because they didn't obey.

So God again chose a certain day. He named it Today. He did that when he spoke through David a long time later. As it was said earlier, "Listen to his voice today. If you hear it, don't be stubborn." —(Psalm 95:7,8)

Suppose Joshua had given them rest. If he had, God would not have spoken later about another day. So there is still a Sabbath rest for God's people.

God rested from his work. Those who enjoy God's rest also rest from their work. So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest. Then no one will fall into sin by following the example of those who didn't obey God.

The word of God is living and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate joints from bones. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart. Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything. He will hold us accountable for everything we do.

...

The fight is to remain in the rest.