Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
—Exodus 23:12 (KJV)
Refreshed! Boy, that's often hard any time, but being refreshed is especially hard in August. It's either the dead of summer or the dead of winter, depending on which side of the equator we find ourselves. Either place, we need to follow God's example of taking a day to rest each week and keep it as a holy time to draw near to him (Exodus 20:11). We need to hear God's desire for us to be refreshed by resting on a day dedicated to him, and to allow those around us to rest and be refreshed in his presence, grace, and rest, as well.
Forgive me, God, for allowing myself to become so busy at being busy that I don't intentionally take time to be refreshed in your rest. Teach me gently, Father, that I need this weekly rest in your presence and with my family to be all you want me to be and all I can be. Restore my soul, dear Father, and fill me with your restoring and refreshing joy from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—Exodus 23:12 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Refreshed! Boy, that's often hard any time, but being refreshed is especially hard in August. It's either the dead of summer or the dead of winter, depending on which side of the equator we find ourselves. Either place, we need to follow God's example of taking a day to rest each week and keep it as a holy time to draw near to him (Exodus 20:11). We need to hear God's desire for us to be refreshed by resting on a day dedicated to him, and to allow those around us to rest and be refreshed in his presence, grace, and rest, as well.
My Prayer...
Forgive me, God, for allowing myself to become so busy at being busy that I don't intentionally take time to be refreshed in your rest. Teach me gently, Father, that I need this weekly rest in your presence and with my family to be all you want me to be and all I can be. Restore my soul, dear Father, and fill me with your restoring and refreshing joy from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...