Jesus never criticised anybody for coming to Him, and they came for all kinds of reasons. He didn’t care why they came as long as they really came to Him “Come to Me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28 (RSV)
This is much deeper than putting your feet up for physical rest. It’s soul rest, spiritual rest. Mental and emotional rest.Being alone with God, wherever. In his presence. Time with God puts you fully in touch with reality, to see the world from the perspective of being loved by a big, lovely gracious God.Living in a wider universe than what we see with our eyes, with a God-soaked imagination.
I realised recently I haven’t been doing that too well, until yesterday I went to Pizza Hut with Jesus, just the two of us – for a chat. I paid the bill (this time – I owe him a lot), and I got the rest.
Result? I was nicer to the waitress, more generous and patient. I was more grateful. Thank you Jesus for everything!
Spiritual recharging, emotional recharging, mental recharging. Relief from anxiety and from tension and from guilt and from fear and from bitterness and all these different things. Jesus says, “Come to Me.”
“God energizes those who get tired, and gives fresh strength to dropouts…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.” Isaiah 40:29-31 (Message).
Notice the word FRESH. When I was in the police you always made sure your radio batteries were fresh. You recharged them between shifts and checked them regularly. Why? If not it was dangerous – you wouldn’t want to be walking around the beat and be out of communication with HQ. You couldn’t get instruction or help!
Isn’t it great that God is always with us? But I have to become aware of his presence and enter it and just wait on him. And nobody can wait in a hurry.
“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.” Matt. 6:6 (Message). Where’s your focus today?
Focus.
Shift.
Sense.