Walk Thru the Bible - Rest: 40 Days of Refreshment for Women

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Rest: 40 Days of Refreshment for Women

Copyright 2021 by Walk Thru the Bible. All rights reserved.

Some of the devotions were previously published by Walk Thru the Bible in Journey magazine and have been adapted from The One Year Daily Moments of Peace.

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Rest often feels like an elusive goal in a world that never seems to shut downor even slow down. Given all the demands on your time, energy, and resources, does your longing for calm, quiet, and stillness ever seem unrealistic or selfish?

If so, Scripture reveals something surprising. The only source of true peace and refreshment, it shows us, is God Himself. After the disciples returned from their first ministry tour, they excitedly told Jesus everything theyd seen and done. Given how much work remained, did Jesus send them right back out into the neighboring towns? No. Instead, He told them, Lets go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile (Mark 6:31).

Likewise, this book is an invitation for you to spend a few minutes each day in quiet contemplation, whether it be first thing in the morning, over your lunch break, or just before bed. God made you and me to function best (and be most at peace) when we regularly take time to connect with Him through Scripture and prayer. As God told the Israelites, Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

Rest can be your means of connecting with God for a few moments a day. These devotions are written by women from all walks of life whose stories will encourage you to embrace the peace and refreshment that is yours when you remember and rest in Gods goodness, power, and love for you.

Each reading ends with a prayer to help you begin a longer conversation with God about the people and situations He has put on your heart. If youd like to go deeper with that days topic, be sure to turn to the Scripture passage referenced in the Rest in Him section.

This book is an invitation for you to hear and meditate on Gods Word as you relax, recharge, and reconnect with Christ, the one who himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14, ESV ).

Search for the L ORD and for his strength; continually seek him.

1 CHRONICLES 16:11

One Sunday afternoon I headed out for a walk through a nearby forest preserve. As I started out on the limestone trail that circles the lake, I felt my body relax. My mind and heart, which had been on overdrive all week, felt lighter. In this place of calm, I began to pray silently as I watched prairie grasses bend and sway gently in the breeze. Tiny waves lapped the rocky shore. When I passed an inlet, I stopped to listen to a chorus of birds chirping from a small stand of trees growing along the waters edge.

Suddenly a rumble from above interrupted the symphony. I watched as a plane zoomed overhead, its engines drowning out the birdsong. No sooner had its sound faded than another plane emerged from the clouds, filling the air with a familiar rumble. Just twenty-five miles from Chicagos OHare Airport, the forest preserve was clearly in one of its flight paths.

Just minutes before, talking with God had seemed easy as I poured out my concerns and sensed Him bringing encouraging Scriptures to mind. Now I simply wanted to finish walking the loop around the lake and head home.

When I got to thinking about how my prayer time was cut short that afternoon, I realized it wasnt all that different from my experience when starting the day with prayer. I am easily distracted. If its not the hum of a plane engine, its the sudden thought of a phone call I need to return or the memory of an argument with my husband. Worse, if I dont guard my heart, my prayers can devolve into a laundry list of worries.

Like those approaching planes, my anxious thoughts so easily break the calm sanctuary the Spirit longs to establish in me. However, while I cant alter a planes flight path, Scripture tells me I can redirect my disruptive musings. I can confess and turn my worries over to the Holy Spirit. I can pray Scripture passages that relate to a concern I have for a family member, knowing God will always fulfill His promises.

Christ is still the Good Shepherd who lets me rest in green meadows and who leads me beside peaceful streams (Psalm 23:2)even when Im not in a secluded (or noise-free) forest preserve.

Heavenly Father, when distractions and noise threaten to drown out Your voice today, draw me close and remind me of Your unfailing promises and love for me.

Rest in Him: 2 Corinthians 1:20-22

He holds all creation together.

COLOSSIANS 1:17

She was sitting in her car seat, singing at the top of her lungs: He is exhausted, the King is exhausted on high, I will praise Him.... He is the Rord...

We were on our way home from church that Sunday afternoon and had just sung that song in the service. Of course, our daughter had a few of the words wrong (exchange exalted for exhausted, and Lord for Rord).

But her rendition of the song got me thinking. Who would blame God for being exhausted? Just listening to my own prayers would make an ordinary person tired. And He listens to the tiniest prayers of His children all over the world. Just taking care of and providing for my little family is a full-time job. But He takes care of and provides for everyone.