By Lori Willard
(All Scripture is taken from NKJV)
Does this seem like an elusive non-activity for you?
Our family ministers in a very needy, spiritually oppressed area. Every day brings new challenges of crisis into our lives as we do “regular ministry” in conjunction with it. We so desire to help those who refuse to help themselves because of their oppression! The Lord has impressed upon us that the most we can do for them is pray for them, offer them Jesus as their escape and salvation through His Word, provide them sack lunches with scripture, and blankets, mittens and hats to keep them warm. Our hearts bleed for them! In the midst of their storms, the Lord has encouraged us to ONLY pour our lives into those who strongly desire Jesus.
As we pray for those living on the streets, the Lord has made it clear that we are to take regular times of rest for ourselves.
Recently, the Lord made it obvious that we were to sell our “retirement home” in Montana. We loved that place but were willing to change our desires for God’s desires. We now have a “retirement cabin” in the woods, at the foothills of Mt. Baker in Washington state. What a change! Will we retire there? Dunno! But He has made it VERY PLAIN that we are to “get out if town” regularly – like once a week – in order to continue ministering!
This order, from the Lord, was for our physical health, emotional health, mental health, but, most importantly, our spiritual health. You cannot give away and give away and give away unless you are “tanked up”! You eventually burn out if you keep giving away without refueling! (This is important for all of us but is especially important for our pastors and their families as this is a constant for them on a daily basis. Please be praying for your pastor and family and for each other as the Word admonishes us to do!)
PSALM 121
1 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”
The Lord had us pray this scripture throughout our new little rest area. There is nothing like getting away and enjoying God’s beauty in His creation to unwind yourself! Why did Jesus say … “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” Mark 6:31 … if He didn’t mean it?
Jesus also took time to pray.
Mark 6:46 “…He departed to the mountain to pray.”
We know Jesus wants us to follow His example, otherwise, He would have left it out of the Bible!
Find your deserted place so you can rest a while! Your body will thank you. Your mind will be more clear. You will feel more emotionally stable. Most of all, you will be more spiritually in tune with the Lord. Allow Jesus to fill you up through scripture and prayer. Meditate on His Word and His ways. Speak to the Lord in prayer. Allow Him to minister to you so you, in turn, can minister to others. His blessings on your rest time with Him!
Isaiah 55:8-10
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
