What does rest look like for you? I’ve been reflecting on the importance of where and how we position ourselves for rest and restoration from the ways we’ve been depleted.
There are tons of strategies that offer us what we need in terms of physical rest…. Sleep. Exercise. Self-care helps restore our mental state to a healthier mindset. But the story of Mary and Martha really tell us so much about how we receive spiritual rest, giving focus to the thing that is most essential.
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42
Where we position ourselves for rest matters.
Mary sat at the Lord’s feet. I know we can’t sit before the flesh and blood Jesus in our homes, like Mary, but Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we can “approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Jesus is our High Priest who is available to us at any time and in any place, for us to come before Him – in a posture of surrender. A Posture of reverence that desires His guidance as Friend, Saviour, Counselor, Intercessor, Advocate, High Priest and Judge. Jesus is near – we can feel His warm and loving presence, if we position ourselves before Him.
How we position ourselves for rest matters.
Mary listened to what Jesus said. So often when we’re depleted, we can focus on our depletion. Or on the circumstances that got us to that point, and that can consume our minds and be the central point of the words that we speak. But when we position ourselves to listen – we sit in silence. Honouring Jesus because of Who He is and valuing the authority and weight of the Words that He would bestow upon our ears and hearts. Listening to Truth exposes the voice of the enemy and where lies have taken root in us… it’s only when we rest in a place before Jesus that He is able to remove those roots and replace them with Truth…bringing restoration to a weary soul, a broken mind, and exhausted body.
When it comes to the subject of rest, we can often be like Martha. Where we work through the to-do list of things that we think will provide relief. And to some extent they do… they can bring a temporary fix to us, but our pure and true rest can only come from Jesus. It’s a place where He brings healing, replenishes us by removing the distractions that have consumed us, and refreshes us by refocusing our gaze on Him.
Will you allow Jesus to minister to you today, like Mary did, by resting in Him? By being adamant in how and where you seek rest? Let’s allow Jesus to do the heavy lifting and trust Him to transformation the weariness of our hearts, soul, and mind by finding rest in Him. Allowing Him to restore our Faith. Restoring love where fear has persisted. Bringing hope where doubt has lingered. Silencing the voice of the enemy and fueling us with the Truth of His Love.
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