In our society, rest is almost seen as a dirty word. Rest is reserved only for the asleep and the dead in our “go, go, go” world. But why is rest important to God, and why do we need rest?
Rest is one of the gifts that God gave us at the beginning of the creation account. He designed our bodies to need rest. Rest is when we recuperate, rejuvenate, and recenter so we can better serve Him.
Why is rest important to God? Rest is an essential part of how we function mentally, physically, and spiritually, and that makes it important to God. #rest #christianity #sabbath Share on XHe Led By Example
In the creation account (Genesis 2:2-3), God rested on the seventh day after he has finished the work of creating the world. An all-powerful being wouldn’t need to rest, so why would God take a whole day to rest? The clear answer is that God was leading us by example. Our Creator called us to rest and sleep because it is good for us.
Our Bodies Are Designed to Need Sleep
Even though we don’t know exactly why our bodies need sleep, we won’t survive without it. The longest anyone has gone without sleep is 11 days and 24 minutes, but it is not recommended to stay up longer than 17 hours as that is when side effects start to set in. Those side effects can include concentration, alertness, and memory difficulties as well as irritability, mood swings, and other problems.
Whether we like it or not, our need for rest is engrained into our system. So why do we not like to rest in our everyday lives? Maybe we feel as though our value is based on our productivity?
Maybe we are worried our lives will fall apart if we are not producing for our work. That may be how we feel, but rest is a commandment from God, and we should feel comfortable enough that we can rest without guilt.
Rest Allows You to Recenter: How to Rest
Rest is an essential part of our health. On a physical level, it allows our cells to repair from the stress of our daily lives. Sleep and rest are also good for your spiritual and mental health.
What is the best way to spend your Sabbath? The truth is what is restful for some may not be restful for others. For some, working in the garden is more restful than sitting and watching a movie. As Jesus said in Mark 2:27, “Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
Rest is a Gift From God
God gave us the Sabbath to rest because we need it. Not only is it biblical to rest, but it is also good for your mental, physical, and emotional health.
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