Have you every needed a vacation? Just to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and watch the waves lap up on the shore. To let your mind rest, not have to solve problems, perpetually clean the house, do the laundry or take care of anyone else. What would THAT be like! Some of us are so weary that even the thought of planning a vacation is a chore. Well, what if I were to tell you that you can take vacation each and everyday right in the privacy of your own home. Yeah, right! Sandy, you simply don’t understand what my home is like. I have small children, the only time I have any peace is when they’re asleep. I remember those days all too well. My mom spoke these words of wisdom to me back then; “When your kids nap, you nap, it’s the only time you’ll get rest. The house can wait but YOU need your rest.”

Beyond that, even as our children grow or leave home, life gets so busy and we lose our ability to really rest. Don’t forget that there is only one you and you are no good to anyone if you don’t take care of you. We know we can’t vacation everyday and sometimes an hour is too much of a sacrifice so whats the solution to this stress we carry with us? I loved how Jesus said it in Matthew 11:28-30 MSG; “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Did you catch that? “Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it.” When I first began carving out time for the Lord, I had to examine my day and where I would have the most quality time of fellowship with Him. That time for me was mornings because for me, that was my best time and I wanted to give God my best. Perhaps for you it’s evenings when everyone is in bed and you’re alone, or when the kids all leave for school and you can grab 20 minutes before dashing out the door. Maybe your time is in your car on the way to work, whenever you choose to do it, take time to ‘learn the unforced rhythms of grace.’  If we don’t take time to learn His rest, we will have nothing of value to give out to those around us.

We will always find time for fun things, vacations, lunch with friends, etc., but the thing we need the most we just can’t seem to fit in our busy schedule. Jesus invites you to learn how to rest in him, follow his example but we can’t do that until we sit with him, read his story, be his friend. Grab your cup of coffee, glass of tea or water and just sit with him for awhile. Allow him to pour into you what you need to make it through your day. I ask God to show me what I need today, sometimes a word or verse comes to my mind and I search for it, read it and close my eyes and think on it. Sometimes I write it in my journal and put down my thoughts or make it into a prayer for the day. Then something wonderful happens; the sweet fragrance of Grace washes over me like the waves on the shore and I come away feeling rested and refreshed. Try it. Once you experience it, you’ll do it everyday. The presence of the Lord has a ‘more taste’ to it. Once you’ve tasted, you’ll just want more and more and more.