God has a purpose and plan for your life, and His timing is perfect. Sometimes He answers our prayers with “yes” or “no.” But at other times, He says “not now”–when that is the case, we can avail ourselves of the rich rewards that come when we wait.

One very practical blessing is that God strengthens us as we lean on Him during delays. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that “those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength.” We are given the metaphor of an eagle with wind beneath his wings. It is interesting to note that the words “wind” and “spirit” come from the same Greek word–pneuma. The spirit of God lifts us up, and His energy and strength sustain us as we abide in Him.

When we are facing a difficult decision, the real key is learning to wait. There is no verse of Scripture that tells us to take control and fight our own battles. God is the one who fights them on our behalf (2 Chron. 20:15). We are to be patient and trust in Him.

When David faced his greatest battles, he waited upon the Lord. God delivered him from destruction and set his feet on solid ground. (Ps. 40:1-3) He will do the same for you. When you abide in Him, He gives supernatural energy to accomplish the things He requires of you–His Spirit does for you what you cannot do for yourself.

In reading through the Scriptures, we see that every time one of God’s saints gains a victory, he or she is waiting and trusting in the Lord. You can likewise experience triumph in your life. When you have the omnipotent Creator of the universe acting on your behalf, you can’t lose.

 It is commendable that the city that never sleeps is at least taking naps. MetroNaps, a New York company that was founded in 2003 and tested at Carnegie Mellon University, provides a chance for over-worked employees, shoppers, and travelers to put their busy schedules on hold. The goal, to fight workplace fatigue, started with workers in Manhattan and has since spread in cities across four continents. The weary are offered a state-of-the-art sleep pod designed to maximize the invigorating effects of a brief rest. Appropriately, the gift of napping is also givable. “Nap Passes” can be purchased for stressed-out colleagues and bosses, friends, or family. 

The subject of busy lives and well-worn calendars is one that hits close to many homes. In fact, that busyness is the common denominator in so many of our lives can be seen in the marketing tactics of products from smart phones to portable breakfasts. Everything is meant to improve our demanding lives (or at least make the chains of busyness more comfortable).

 I remember an editorial which offered a proposal to counter these chains that bind us to clocks, blackberries, and inboxes, 24 hours a day. The suggestion, which the author admittedly referred to as radical, was to set aside a day, and in setting aside this day, to also set aside our electronics. Calling readers to take a day to refocus and reorder, he urged the world to give itself permission to take a full day off. “Maybe the ancients didn’t pick the number seven out of a hat,” he reasoned. “Perhaps they understood that human beings can only immerse themselves in commerce for six days at a stretch before losing touch with anything approaching a civic, social, or spiritual reality.”(1)

 The book of Exodus recounts this notion, though it is made clear it is not their idea. “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day” (20:11). While each of the six days of God’s labor was pronounced good, God chose to set apart one day out of the seven, pronouncing it holy, something other, something set apart. In the form of a commandment, God then tells the people to keep it that way. Something about the seventh day was not to be forgotten. But more than rule or ritual, it was to be a sign between God and humanity for generations to come, “so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy” (Exodus 31:13). 

 But after centuries of living with the command to rest, it was a struggle to see it as anything more than a command. In this, Jesus found opportunity to remind the crowds, “The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath.”

 As I sit here daydreaming of sleep pods and power naps, I realize that we evidently need that reminder again and again. What if the seventh day is a gift, a nap pass—a gentle invitation? I suspect if we were to take rest seriously, we would discover that it is also a powerful sign between God and humanity. It is a day set apart from appointment books and pressing schedules to remind us that the most pressing aspect of our lives is that we are creatures made at the hands of another. Who we are is most authentically realized and most dynamically lived out when we are resting in the presence of God, sleeping like Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham and the care of a Father who guards us by day and night.(2) 

 Whether or not the notion of urban power-napping permanently catches on, the universal longing—and need—for rest may be far more important than we realize. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” said Jesus to a crowd in Galilee.(3) If we slow down long enough to consider it, we might remember that rest is not only a luxury, but that it is also a need. We might remember that the labor of God is far more significant than our own. We might remember—and rejoice—that the God who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps.

 Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

 (1) Douglas Rushkoff, “An Argument in Favor of a Day Off,” The New York Times, December 1999.
(2) See Luke 16:20, Psalm 121
(3) Matthew 11:28

Morning “Looking unto Jesus.” Hebrews 12:2

 It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but

Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make

us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great

for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able

to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a

wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never

find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes

entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is

all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ

 that saves thee–it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee–it

is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument–it is

Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which

thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the

source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher

of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our

doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest

to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must

be by “looking unto Jesus.” Keep thine eye simply on him; let his

 death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon

thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at

night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus;

follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.

  “My hope is built on nothing less

 Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:

 I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

 But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”

 

Evening “But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.” Exodus 7:12

 This incident is an instructive emblem of the sure victory of the divine

handiwork over all opposition. Whenever a divine principle is cast into the

heart, though the devil may fashion a counterfeit, and produce swarms of

opponents, as sure as ever God is in the work, it will swallow up all its foes.

If God’s grace takes possession of a man, the world’s magicians may throw down

all their rods; and every rod may be as cunning and poisonous as a serpent, but

Aaron’s rod will swallow up their rods. The sweet attractions of the cross will

woo and win the man’s heart, and he who lived only for this deceitful earth will

now have an eye for the upper spheres, and a wing to mount into celestial

 heights. When grace has won the day the worldling seeks the world to come. The

same fact is to be observed in the life of the believer. What multitudes of foes

has our faith had to meet! Our old sins–the devil threw them down before us,

and they turned to serpents. What hosts of them! Ah, but the cross of Jesus

destroys them all. Faith in Christ makes short work of all our sins. Then the

devil has launched forth another host of serpents in the form of worldly trials,

temptations, unbelief; but faith in Jesus is more than a match for them, and

overcomes them all. The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful service

of God! With an enthusiastic love for Jesus difficulties are

 surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are honours. But if

religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that there

are many persons who profess religion but have it not; for what they have will

not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron’s rod

proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ be anything

he must be everything. O rest not till love and faith in Jesus be the master

passions of your soul!

 

Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.  1 Corinthians 7:20

Some people have the foolish notion that the only way in which they can live for God is by becoming pastors, missionaries, or Bible teachers. How many would be excluded from any opportunity of spiritual usefulness if this were the case. Beloved, it is not office—it is sincerity; it is not position—it is grace that will enable us to serve and glorify God. God is definitely glorified at the workbench, where the godly worker fulfills his task singing of the Savior’s love. In this humble setting God is glorified far more than in many a lofty pulpit where official religion performs its scanty duties. The name of Jesus is glorified by the taxicab driver as he blesses God and speaks to his passengers of the living hope. He will be more useful than the popular preacher who goes about peddling the Gospel for profit. God is glorified when we serve Him in our proper vocations.

Take care, dear reader, that you do not neglect the path of duty by leaving your occupation, and take care you do not dishonor your profession while in it. Think little of yourselves, but do not think too little of your callings. Every lawful trade may be sanctified by the Gospel to noblest ends. Turn to the Bible, and you will find the most menial forms of labor connected either with most daring deeds of faith or with persons whose lives have been illustrations of holiness.

Therefore do not be discontented with your calling. Whatever God has made your position or your work, remain in that, unless you are quite sure that He calls you to something else. Let your first concern be to glorify God to the best of your ability where you are. Fill your present sphere to His praise, and if He needs you in another, He will show it to you. This evening lay aside anxious ambition, and embrace peaceful content.

Family Reading Plan    Isaiah 59    Matthew 7