2025: Time to Rest
The new year is here. New year's resolutions offer the time to start new. How refreshing is it to have new things in life? Whether it's a new routine or a challenging goal that sets the spark.
Personally, I've never been one for new year's revolutions. However, I am one to participate in those thirty day challenges or accomplish some sort of challenge at random times of the year. As a runner, we are renowned for signing up for a race and then thinking, oh now I need to train for that now. Then there's those daily habits for yourself. Something as simple as waking up earlier or drinking more water.
On New Year's Eve, I sat down pen in hand writing down my different goals for this year. These goals include running a faster mile along with simple tasks like drinking more water every day. After I was done, I grabbed a picture and posted it on Instagram. Because, of course, without showing your aspirations on social media, it obviously won't count.
It wasn't until days later that had occurred to me. Did I include anything for my spiritual well-being? Between working full time in ministry with Radio, serving at church as a pastor's wife, helping with church events, and being a mom there is very little time. In all these roles I would say I am busy serving God.
Then a thought, a conviction possibly, that maybe I am getting so caught up serving that I forget to be with God?
Let me paint a scenario for you. Let's say you are hosting a party and you invite your best friend. However, you invited many other friends, along with some friends you haven't seen for a long time. You get engrossed with reconnecting with those friends you hadn't seen for a long time. Then you realize you ignored your best friend. Your best friend that will always be there and always will have your back.
You then think, is it really that important to be with that best friend in that moment when you're busy socializing with other people? You may experience some guilt at that moment, but you know your friend understands.
Now, let's go a step further into the future. You have since hosted many parties and made many new friends. Then one day you get some amazing news, you finally got the job promotion that you had wanted for a very long time. In the excitement, you know, you have to call your best friend and tell them. However, when you call it goes right to voicemail. You think, “how odd”, they have always answered your calls quickly. Then after sometime, maybe even a few days, you get a call back. It's your friend, returning your call. Then she says something about how it's been years since you talked, and it's good to hear from you. In your busy life, you forgot about your best friend.
God is not just the best friend in our life. He is our provider and our Savior. In my daily life I know I’m guilty of going through the motions. No, I'm not saying it's not all good things or healthy habits. We might read our bible every morning and pray throughout the day. Which are all very good things- but what's the heart behind it? Are we so busy trying to serve we forget to have a relationship with him? We need to rest at the feet of Jesus.
Did you hear me? Rest! As a mom and a wife, let me tell you, resting is not something we normally do.
This is not a new issue. In the bible, there was Martha and Mary. Martha was so busy cleaning and preparing and making the house perfect. Well, Mary was sitting with Jesus and visiting with him.
In Luke 10:38–42, Martha gets upset with Mary because she is sitting at Jesus' feet listening to him instead of helping her fix food for the people. Jesus calls Martha's name twice to gently point out that she is overly worried and distracted by many things. Of course, the Lord Jesus greatly appreciated Martha's hospitality and kindness. But in His love for her, He wanted to help her to get her priorities right.
So with that being said, I want to encourage you in this new year, it's not so much about the resolutions you've set for yourself, regardless if your goals might be health for self improvement or for your spiritual relationship. I want to encourage you to be like Mary and take some time just to sit at Jesus's feet.
Please have a listen to this sermon that inspired me to write this blog.
