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Lazy or Restful?

by Tonja Taylor  
4/24/2023 / Christian Living


Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]--Matthew 11:28, AMPC

For he who has once entered [God’s] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own.--Hebrews 4:10, AMPC

Opinions vary on the difference in being "lazy" or "restful".

Lazy is never good in the world, nor in the Bible. 

As the door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man [move not from his place] upon his bed.--Proverbs 26:14, AMPC

He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.--Proverbs 10:4, AMPC
 
In His Word, the LORD talks about not being lazy, and He talkes more about resting. Even in the (perfect) Garden of Eden, the LORD intended for Adam and Eve to work, and tend the Garden. It was going to be very pleasant work, of course, but would definitely require effort.
 
So how do we determine which is which? After all, the "work smarter, not harder" thing is something we usually like; getting more done with less effort, to save time, and, we hope, money, right?

 

For instance, my husband said that, when he was in college many years ago, he wouldn't make up the bed, because he knew that he'd just mess it up again. 

I can see his wisdom in that, but overall, we consider that being lazy. 

(By the way, that was decades ago, and he is very neat and orderly, makes the bed every morning unless I get to it first, and also helps me with housework and more. What a man!)

Ultimately, we must rely on the Word of God and His Holy Spirit, and choose to trust Him, and stay in peace that our dear LORD will guide us.  Part of trusting the LORD is learning to trust His opinion of us, instead of people's opinion(s). 

He is our good Shepherd Who has promised to order our steps and direct our paths, and always in righteous ways. 

He will always lead us into rest! 

This is true emotionally, mentally, and physically.

We can do physical work and find it restful, although of course many of us get satisfaction in accomplishing things.  We can also have great satisfaction--rest--even from intense mental and emotional work.

When we start to feel weary in any part of life, we should first ask ourselves if it's because of a lack of sleep, a poor diet, etc., because these things can actually affect our emotions and thoughts. We can also ask the Holy Spirit Who knows us and all things if we are allowing ourselves to be stressed, or trying to do too much--like He corrected me the other night, when I was writing and listening to the Word, but actually going past the cutoff time that I had set for myself.

"You're in work mode," He said to my heart. "Get out of work mode."

I thanked Him for that correction and apologized, then went to spend time with just me and Him, by listening, praying, worshiping, reading His Word.

Through the decades, the LORD has actually had to command me to rest.

He loves us so much more than our performance for Him! HALLELUJAH!

I remember once, about 20 years ago, I had a bit of time to myself, and decided I was going to be a good Christian and accomplish several spiritual things at once: (1) Be alone with God; (2) pray in the Spirit; and (3) work out by running on the track (where no one else was at the moment).

So, I started walking quickly to warm up, and started praying hard in tongues, in my Heavenly language. The LORD very quickly spoke to my heart. "Just rest," He whispered. 

I knew He was talking about not trying to perform--which is what I was really doing!--and to just enjoy the quiet with Him, while getting some fresh air and gentle exercise. 

He knows all things, and He loves us so much! 

I can understand His love and desire for me to rest, because that's what I desire of my darling dynamite daughter (who is now 26, married 3 years to her best friend of over 11 years, graduated from university with a bachelor's degree, and just an excellent godly wise and talented young woman). 

Sometimes I've forgotten that, because the world (even the Christian world, overall), judges others on performance. 

However, our dear Father models resting for us, by Himself taking a Sabbath. He created the whole world and Adam and Eve in six days, then on the seventh day, He rested (Genesis 2:1-3). 

The LORD counsels us in Hebrews 4 to "work to rest"--not an oxymoron! 

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should] think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it. 2 For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe). 3 For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest...--Hebrews 4:1-3, AMPC

Quick prayer: Dear Father, we love You, and thank You that we don't--can't!--perform for You to make You love us more, for You sent Your only Son Jesus to die for us on the cross. He performed for us, so we can rest and rejoice in You, receive Your wonderful Ephesians 2:10 Plan for us, and accomplish it by Your help on the earth. We praise You that You value time with us much more than anything we can ever "do" for You, and it is only by Your Spirit that we can do anything anyway. Help us draw closer to You, and hear Your loving Voice, and learn to rest as we yield to You working through us, to help others know how very good You are! In Jesus' Name, amen!

 

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.

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