Editor's note: Enjoy today's devotion from the Read. Think. Live Bible.
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What are some reasons why God invites us to take one day out of the week to rest?
Read.
As we go through the week, there are multiple obligations claiming our time, energy and attention. Outside influences tell us that we must act, we must succeed, we must earn money, we must be the best, we must perform. We internalize those expectations and add to them. In the midst of all of that is God. And through the practice of a Sabbath rest, He has invited us to create a space to allow His love to push against the things that are pushing in on us. David sang to God:
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. — Psalm 18:2
When we rest, God invites us to step back into Him—our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, our refuge, our shield, our salvation and our stronghold.
Think.
The busyness of life slowly erodes our perception of the truth that we are children of God—that He is in control and we aren’t, that He is with us so we don’t have to be the savior of our own personal world. If we don’t get recharged, we’ll start living as if He isn’t real and as if we aren’t loved. And that is no way for a child of God to live. If we choose to rest, we’ll have an opportunity to shrug off the robe of negativity that the world is seeking to put on us and put on God’s robe of love for us.
Live.
One day this week, try observing a sabbath. Neglect all the “musts” and the “ought tos”; instead, do things that bring you life. Invite Jesus to speak to you in the fun you have as you do the things you love to do. Ask Him to refill you and restore you in Him and in His truth.
Rest is a beautiful gift from a very good God.
Read Psalm 18:2. Write a prayer below, asking God to teach you how to make him the place of safety in your life when the to-dos swirl around.
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Worth It
Why did God allow evil into His story?
Read.
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. — 1 John 1:5
God is always, always good. There is absolutely no darkness in Him at all—not even a sliver. Ever. Every decision God makes is good. God can’t make a decision that’s bad, because if He did, then He would cease to be Himself. It’s literally impossible, therefore, for God to make a decision out of cruelty or meanness.
So when God chose to carry on with His story, even knowing that it would involve the fall and evil, it was a good decision. Because every decision God makes is a good decision. He can’t make any other kind.
Think.
So why did God allow evil into His story?
Have you ever misjudged someone’s motives behind a certain decision because you didn’t have all of the information—and then when you learned what their motives were, your view of everything changed?
God has a really good reason for allowing evil to enter into his story: It was a necessary price in order to achieve a far greater result for all of eternity.
Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. — 2 Corinthians 4:17
From God’s all-knowing point of view, the goodness we will experience in eternity will be worth every bit of pain we experience in this fallen, broken world.
Live.
The reality is this:
Every evil you experience in your life is achieving an eternal glory for you that will be more valuable than the pain you experience.
God knows that when you’re finally in Heaven, after you’ve experienced the pain of this earth falling away, and you live in an evil-and-pain-free world day after day after day after day on into forever, whatever pain you had to walk through on this side of Heaven will be worth it. Even though you can’t see that, He does. Trust His heart.
Write a prayer asking God to help you live in the reality that the eternal glory you’re going to experience forever will greatly outweigh the temporary pain you’re experiencing now.
Excerpted with permission from the Read. Think. Live Bible, copyright Zondervan.
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Your Turn
Stop and take a breath of fresh air. Let Jesus in and ease into relaxing with Him. Rest will change your perspective and help you trust in Jesus! ~ Devotionals Daily