I think I'm turning into my grandmother because I can almost sleep sitting up these days. There's a book I'm trying to read about resting and the Sabbath, called
The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul By Restoring the Sabbath by Mark Buchanan. I've heard it's really good, but every time I try to read it I start dozing.
I know the author's point is going to be how important it is to observe the Sabbath. How much we need the Sabbath. But it's hard to schedule an entire day just for rest and pleasure when for us Sundays are one of the busiest days of the week. And even though the Sabbath doesn't have to be on Sunday, the only other option for me is Saturday--my day to run all the errands and do all the chores I didn't get to during the week.
What does it really mean to rest in God, anyway? I'm in such a rush all the time, I don't think I even know how to relax anymore. And this constant rushing conditions the mind against rest, like it's a bad thing. We lie around and feel lazy for doing so. We can't turn our minds off to the things that need doing. Somehow, we just can't be still. But then there's that scripture.
Be still, and know that I am God. It's almost audible, the way He speaks it to me, and I realize I need Him to show me how.
You commanded us to remember the Sabbath, Lord, so help me to get still before You. Help me lay aside all my endeavors and pursue the things that bring peace and joy and fellowship to our home and family, at least for one day. As I worship You this day, please teach me about Your rest.
I really must read that book.
By Amy at Make Me a Mary
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Comments (5)
I'm pretty sure it means to turn from work and turn to the Lord. It doesn't mean lack of activity.
I have come to relish early morning Mass on Sundays. It's a chance to say thank you and be grateful. To me, that's what rest means. In fact, I am developing the habit of spending time first thing in the morning being grateful to God. It's a gift of rest that I give to myself really, since I am the only one standing in the way of God and all the blessings he has for me.
Wow, how cool...I love how God is talking with you! Can you hear what He's saying
Ps 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; For'so he giveth unto his beloved sleep."
Seems He is leading you to sabbath, rest, SLEEP! Maybe the book is overkill...God, the creator and LOVE, is revealing His good gifts directly to you! Doesn't seem you can do it more 'right' than that
You must be one of His favorites for the God of the whole universe to hold you so dearly and love you so tenderly! Praise the living loving God!
Maybe the point of the book is to make you rest, literally.
Well, the Seventh Day Adventists in Loma Linda, CA observe the Sabbath, and they have one of the longest lifespans in the world. There is a reason God wants people to rest.
"Be Still and Know that I am God"
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali say
"Yoga is the control of thought waves in the mind"
When this control is had through methods of Yoga meditation, then, and only then can you truly be "still" and know God.
When the Minds restless chatter is stilled only then can the reflection of God be seen within ourselves.
Just like a lake only reflects the moon perfectly when the ripples die down, likewise our minds ripples need to cease before the pure image of God within us can be seen and purely reflected. Each restless thought acts as a wave of commotion bursting through the silence.
Prayer is talking with God, Meditation is Listening to Him.
http://www.yogananda-srf.org/What_Is_Yoga,_Really_.aspx