Lack of rest equals abundance of stress........

In the madness of last week, I somehow found time to catch Lysa TerKeurst's live webinar on her new book "Unglued."  Of course, it was on a night of week that I didn't get home until almost 8:00 p.m., Matt had just finished dinner, and I was feeling extremely exhausted from the crazy week at work. As I walked in the door, I asked Matt if we could watch the webinar while eating dinner, and thankfully he agreed, and we both ended up watching the entire hour. The topic was how we as women react to emotions and stress, and one of the things the ladies in the webinar shared was "Lack of Rest Equals Abundance of Stress."

And, oh this true in my life right now.  I find myself working 12 - 16 hours of days, sleeping only 4 to 5 hours a night and literally by Thursday evening my entire body aches from the lack of rest.  Over these last eight (8) months, my health has taken the biggest beatings from the stress in my job. 

Yet, after hearing this phrase, I couldn't help but think if I was feeling MORE STRESS because my lack of rest. Rest does not only equal sleep, but I also believe Rest is just allowing ourselves to sit and read, or sit and watch TV, or simply just SIT.

I struggle with just resting, and if I find myself sitting on the couch for a few minutes watching TV, I commonly feel the enemy attacking my thoughts and making me think I am lazy because I just sitting and not getting anything done. 

Rest is a necessity. It is a Biblical principle that all creatures must rest. Without proper rest the human body will break down, which usually happens to me mid-week.  Take a look at what the Bible says about rest.

  

Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Psalms 37: (MSG) Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. 

Isaiah 14:3-4 When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: ”How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!

Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)  Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Matthew 11:28-29 “…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."

These are only a few of the many verses in scripture that talk about REST, and as I studied these verses I realized that the Lord is truly calling us to take care of our bodies and to do that we must REST.  

So that is the "Habit" I am working on most this week, because I believe the other habits will fall into place, because I truly feel if I get rest eating right, exercising, time with the Lord in the morning, etc. will all fall into place. 

What does Rest Look Like:  Sleeping 7-8 hours each night, taking time at night to rest either reading or watching TV before bed, rest throughout the day and actually take a small lunch break.  

How do you rest??  Would love to know. 

Have a great & RESTFUL week!!