~ Take Time To Enjoy ~

[Lani]

Genesis 1:31
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 2:1-2:3
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.



This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)




Every Monday morning, a to-do list stares up at me from my calendar. Gone is the sense of accomplishment from the previous week and its completed tasks. A new list of tasks awaits me, including some items that didn't get done the previous week (or the week before that) and have been moved to the current week's list.

Often I find myself trying to accomplish several tasks on my list all in one day. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from rapidly checking items off my list. But I also feel stressed and exhausted from trying to do too much too quickly. I have to remind myself to slow down, to remember that I don't have to accomplish everything in a single day.

God could have created the earth and the vast universe in a single day or even a single moment. But God didn't do it that way. Why? Could it be that God wanted to stop and enjoy each piece of Creation as it was being created? God also chose to rest on the seventh day, to enjoy the completed work.

God is teaching me to seek balance between work and rest. God is also helping me to realize that slowing down and enjoying life is as important as checking off a completed item from my list.




Prayer: Creator God, teach us to enjoythe journey as much as reaching the destination. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen

Prayer Focus of Day: People who never Relax.

Thought for the Day: Today, take 5 minutes to sit in quiet and enjoy what God has created around you.

Story shared by: J. Kuty (VA)
Source: Upper Room Daily Devotional: 8/1/11