Ge 2:2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Rest doesn't ever come easy in our fast paced lives, but it is a key to Godly living. God identifies Himself as "the LORD who sanctifies you" in Exodus 31: 13.
Sanctify means: A verb meaning to be set apart, to be holy, to show oneself holy, to be treated as holy, to consecrate, to treat as holy, to dedicate, to be made holy, to declare holy or consecrated, to behave, to act holy, to dedicate oneself. The verb, in the simple stem, declares the act of setting apart, being holy (IE withdrawing someone or something from profane or ordinary use). *
The context of Exodus 31 is the Sabbath rest. God commands that
Exodus 31:15 ‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord;
While we are no longer under the Law since Christ's death and resurrection, the Law was put in place by a loving God for His chosen people. It was GOOD for them. And so it is GOOD for us.
All this is to say...rest is a part of our sanctification. God designed us, He wrote the Owner's Manual, and He modeled rest. He also modeled WORK, which December will certainly hold plenty of, but please remember that REST is God's idea. Being well rested will indeed set you apart in this world, and perhaps someone will ask you WHY you prioritize as you do.
So many times I hear women tell me that they feel guilty if they rest. That is false guilt. Rest is a gift from God. Rest in the Lord. Rest with the Lord. Be still so that you can know that He is God. I love how the New American Standard Bible puts it:
Psalm 46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
God is the one who makes us holy - sets us apart - sanctifies us. But we need to take the time to rest in His presence. To be still. To cease striving. Amazingly, the more time we take with Him, the more productive we will be. (it's true! Try Him!)
Want to read more of the Word today? Luke 1 sets the stage for the blessed birth. Read it slowly. We'll read it more than once this month. Get a notebook and identify the main characters, and then write down what you learn about them. Study Luke 1 for a few days.
Organizational Tip of the Day:
Keep your bedroom clutter free. Take a little time now to create a restful resting place. Is there room for a reading chair with your Bible, notebook, and a pen so that you can find respite in His Word? A journal in which to keep lists and release worries? Find a candle for your bedside table.
Bedrooms can often become the dumping grounds. As much as possible, make yours a sanctuary. Fill a box with clutter, if necessary, and stick it in the closet to sort later. Keep a restful spot in your home during this very busy month.
*[from: Baker, Warren: The Complete Word Study Dictionary : Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN : AMG Publishers, 2003, c2002, S. 980]
