Thoughts for Life: RESTING ON A ROCK

~ Diana Derringer- "Once or twice a year, my husband's uncle drove from his Indiana home to a northwestern desert.

He said he needed to get away from everything . . . to spend some time just sitting on a rock. He usually combined his trips with mission work and meeting various needs in the area. First, however, he withdrew to his rock to clear his mind and calm his spirit from the stresses of everyday life. (Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

Whether he intentionally followed Jesus’ example or simply recognized his personal need for solitude, my husband’s uncle never said. Either way, his actions demonstrated Jesus’s pattern during His time on earth.

Jesus’ life was indeed full. He ministered to hurting crowds through healing, feeding, and teaching. He offered unconditional love and touched the untouchables, as He demonstrated to the man with leprosy. He ate with the outcasts, which challenged the status quo. Yet with all that interaction, Jesus regularly withdrew from everyone and everything for time alone with His Father. We need that same renewal—that same release from day-to-day stress.

Are you burdened by life’s demands and wonder how you can continue? Find your place of rest. Go there often for one-on-one time with God. Your never-failing Father in heaven remains ready to meet with you in solitude and give you the strength you need for whatever lies ahead.

What steps can you take to incorporate rest into your schedule?"

"The news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:15-16 NIV

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Let's pray-

Father, as the writer's husband's uncle did, we need to get away from everything at times, too. We need some time alone with God, to get His perspective on life in general, and to relieve our spirits of accumulated stress.

The Lord's life was full, as He ministerd to hurting crowds through healing, feeding and teaching. He offered unconditional love and touched even the untouchables. He ate with the outcasts and interacted with them. He regularly withdrew from everyone and everthing to spend time alone wih You.

As we need that same renewal — that same release from day-to-day stress, may we follow their examples! We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen!

871-875 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

871- Eph. 4:7 "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

872- 2 Cor. 3:5b "But our sufficiency is of God."

873- Ps. 65:3 "Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away."

874- Pro. 8:35 "For whoso findth me (wisdom) findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD."

875- Ps. 31:1 "In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness."

Quotes for today-

~ Jill Savage- "Surrender is a really important part of life and faith. It's making sure Jesus is in the drivers' seat of your life, leading and guiding your every step. It's letting go of control. It's trusting God even when we don't understand."

~ Emily Marszalek- "No matter how many times we trip or tumble, God is there to pick us up, recenter our hearts and minds, and encourage us to continue down our path. The psalmist reminds us that God does not sleep but continually watches over us. Our God is always present, watchful, loving, and available."

Words of wisdom-

~ Whoever does God's work will get God's pay in wisdom and blessings.

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