Resting With Purpose

     As the last weeks of summer draw to a close, I was thinking about the last-minute vacations and personal time splurges people would be taking as a "final haul" for summer. I was thinking about how people spend their "down time," "veg-out time," "brain-dead time," and what people do to "relax." The top things I could think of were: watching television, listening to music, and playing video games.

     All of these are things I enjoy, but I was thinking about the quantity people consume them in the name of "down-time." With the last few days of summer quickly moving by, I was wondering how many people would binge play Call of Duty for three days straight or watch all four seasons of the Walking Dead back to back before summer officially ended.

Then the thought floated into my mind:

     How many people would spend three days in prayer for the persecuted Christians in the middle east? How many people would donate $100 not to a shopping spree, but to a Christian organization? How many people would sleep-in until noon, but not spend and extra 15 minutes in their devotions?

     I am guilty of all these charges over the summer as a whole. I have not spent or done as much as I should have for the cause of Christ, but I sure made time to do the things I wanted to do. There is a little hope left, however: summer is not yet over. Better sooner than later, make a change now by analyze how the time is spent.

     Why not relax by reading an extra Bible chapter? Or dedicate 15 minutes to prayer (I like to pray by journaling my words to God.) What's more, I've usually found spending time with the Lord to be more relaxing and rejuvenating than watching a movie. A movie makes my mind race with ideas; prayer clams my mind and prioritizes my thoughts.

     Once again, there is nothing wrong with music or movies -- I couldn't imagine my life without either of them! -- but the question comes with quantity and quality. Is your time with God suffering because of these activities? Or does your interaction with God pale in comparison to your interaction with pastimes?

     Most importantly, if you do see a problem, what are you going to do about it? Recognition of a problem doesn't make a difference if no action is taken. If you need accountability, find someone. If you need to set timers or alarms to limit your play time, do it. There is no excuse for allowing your spiritual life to suffer in the name of "relaxation."

     The beautiful part is God promises blessings to those who seek Him out.

"I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me" (Proverbs 8:17, NASB).

     Seeking the Lord is the beginning and continuation of a strong relationship with Christ. In Him all things are possible, including relaxation and down-time.

A Time of Rest

     Spring Break has been in full swing for about a week now at my school. It's been so strange to go from having class every day and full homework loads in between classes to having nothing -- literally nothing! -- imminently due. Am I still stressed about my upcoming term papers? Yes. But, for the past few days I have had nothing that's "do or die" due.

     Part of my feels like, "YES! Lazy time! I want to sleep in, play games, catch up with friends... in short: have fun because I can." Another part feels like, "What are you doing?!? You should be working, making money, getting ahead on all the school assignments that are still looming over your head." After deliberating for a little while, I figured out that both of these positions are wrong -- Yes, I said both!

     Spring break -- or any free time, for that matter -- must be used wisely. For this time to be used wisely, many things must be taken into account; the results will change each time. For instance, if one has been working extremely long shifts or doing massive amounts of research, a few days of "brain-dead" fun would be a great way to recharge one's batteries. On the other hand, if one has spent the past several weeks up to his eyeballs in social events, a few days of peace and quiet to get some work done would be better. HOWEVER, these aspects are secondary to what the primary focus during any break should be.

     With all of this free time, one must make EXTRA time to spend with God in prayer and devotion. I have actually found it is more difficult to make time for God during break than during the school year. It is almost as though something inside wants to say, "You're taking a break from everything, including God." This is a big fat LIE! Since we have the extra time, we need to use the extra time wisely -- time is a resource just like money, spend it carefully. Take some of this extra time to really dig into God's word and to pray.

     I personally don't care about the "length of time" one spends in devotion, but as a suggestion, however long one normally spends in devotion, double it during break. 10 minutes becomes 20. 30 minutes becomes an hour. Devotional time also doesn't have to be spent in monk-like solitude -- although alone time with God is VERY important too. Some of the best devotional time I've ever had was reading a passage of scripture with my family or friends and discussing it together.

     Since God is to be the most important aspect of our lives, it only makes sense that during time off we spend extra time with Him. I heard someone once describe how we should spend time with God is like how we spend time with a boyfriend/girlfriend.

"Everything calls to mind that special person. We want to share everything with them and the beauty of everything with them. We long to be in their presence just to enjoy being together. All other relationships seem to pale in the light of each other's company. This is what it should be like in our relationship with God. We sacrifice spending time with others or at other events just so we can have a few more minutes with God. We should talk to God about everything and how it makes us think or feel. He is to be our companion through everything."

     May this spring break be a time of spiritual growth and maturation in your faith in Jesus Christ. By spending time to draw close to God, He will draw close to you. He is faithful and will fulfill His promises: those who seek wisdom will find it. Those who desire a stronger relationship with God will find that as well.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. -- Revelation 3:19-22 NIV

Trial By Fire

     Unfortunately there are times when our circumstances feel completely out of control. No matter which way we turn, there is another obstacle -- another hardship. To make everything worse, one feels as though there will never be a moment of rest. The small gaps in between difficulties feel more like tense waiting, rather than a respite. It's almost like a "bad news/worse news" scenario. I'm the type of person that wants to "hurry-up and get it over with"; so, these periods of waiting are particularly difficult for me.

     Yet, God is with us. Much to our dismay, He may even be the one who put us in the trial (though more often, it is we who put ourselves there.) The thing to keep in mind is the purpose of existence: to bring glory to God. No matter what our circumstances are, we're to bring glory to God. There are other benefits as well: a stronger character, the ability to help others, a better relationship with God...

     For each person the test will be different. Different people will have different areas with which they struggle; therefore, what might be a trial for one may only be an inconvenience for another. An area with which I have trouble is maintaining my relationship with God. I struggle with being consistent in my prayer and devotions -- I'll do it every day for 2 months then not at all for the following month. The way God keeps me on track is to place me in situations that I cannot cope with on my own. Unpleasant for me, but the reward of growing closer to God is unfathomable.

    One of the most difficult parts of trials is this: if you don't learn what God wanted you to learn the first go around, God will send you through a second time. And a third time -- until you become what He wants you to be. I and so many know this from experience. Some of the "valley of the shadow of death" 's that I had to go through were because I didn't listen to God the first time.

     BUT be encouraged. No matter how difficult your life is, and no matter how little rest you receive in this life there is a reward awaiting us in Heaven. Each time
we as Christians go through something difficult -- and bring glory to God through it -- we are granted eternal rewards that will NEVER fade. This life is only temporary -- fleeting -- but God is FOREVER.

Don't Stress

     With the school year in full swing, we are now getting to the time when due-dates, assignments and projects are needing to be finished. Time is running out and stress is running high. If you're anything like me, the week before an assignment is due, you freak-out! I desire so strongly to do my absolute best that I melt down right before I have to turn it in. Much of the time, I feel as though no matter how much effort I put into a project I could have done more.

     However, in these times of distress -- or seeming distress -- my mother tells me her favorite saying.

"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

     At first I want do scream, "That doesn't make me feel any better!" but then I realize that she is right. The only way to complete any project is to START and to start by taking ONE step at a time. No matter how large or insurmountable an assignment might seem the first thing to do is get started. Nothing will complete itself, but remember that the best or most that you can do is all you can give.

     One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa, "I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much." God will never put you in a situation that is beyond your ability -- we often times put ourselves in situations that we cannot handle, but God never does. If we are positive that we are where God want us to be and we are doing what He wants us to do, the rest is up to Him.

      If you feel like you are drowning in schoolwork remember that there is an end. You can finish. God is with you the whole while. Allow Him to strengthen you and there will be nothing that can stand in your way.