Rest and Prayer

“A restful spirit is spiritual warfare in a culture of exhaustion”. 

This is one of my favorite quotes and I often think about this when I feel the Spirit prodding me to slow down. Living in a culture that is screaming the praises of people who endure the 12 hour work day, who put drive over rest and family, feels like an inhabitable place for the Christian.  I hear people say “I can’t take a vacation, I would miss too much work.” While this might be true, thinking this way will align you with a version of rest that can be detrimental to your spiritual health; this despite the enormous research that has been telling us that rest/vacation is vital to our health.  

So in an effort to battle the busyness and promote spiritual gain, my family carves out a week of rest every year on the beaches of southern California; this past October was our week.  I will confess that slowing down, even on vacation, can be difficult for me. I am very much a doer. So I submitted myself to praying each day (walking on the beach while doing so was definitely an amazing bonus). I admit that when I am usually on vacation, my prayers are quick and fewer, but this time became precious. I was able to connect with His Spirit in a new and very intentional way.  Being away from work and home really created mental space for me to think, wonder and listen to God. I would encourage you to take intentional time to rest one day a week and one week a year even if you never leave home. Doing rest is a way of confessing to God that you trust Him for your work and your time. It is a tangible reminder to you that you have limits and creating margin is a healthier way of living.