Elect Lady's Corner

One of the most accessible gifts that we are given by God that is a necessity for survival in life, is one that we often take lightly or ignore, and that is this simple discipline called “rest.” I call it a discipline because you have to discipline yourself to rest. Rest is defined as: “to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself or recover strength; peace and quiet.” In the Hebrew, rest means “to stop.” 

So, you can’t continue to go or do all the time; sometimes you simply need to stop and take a break! Isn’t it interesting that the first thing we hear after God created the heavens and the earth, and all mankind in Genesis 1, is Genesis 2 which begins with the significance and blessedness of “rest.” 

Genesis 2:1-3 said: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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. 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.”  

Before God gave any commandment, He speaks of “rest.” Later, God gave Moses the 10 commandments and the 4th commandment in Exodus 20:8, 11 said: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. for in 6 days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the 7th day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” 

The fact that God used the word remember which means “to bring to mind something that has already been said or done” is of great significance. This means if rest is important to God, it should be important to us. Also, the Gospels record that Jesus rested and slept on the hinder part of the ship or He retreated by Himself to pray to the Father; or other times when he took the disciples aside from the people to rest. 

It has been said rest is incredibly important to our body’s health. According to “Integris Health: “rest is vital for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, an improved mood and even a better metabolism.” 

Also, it is said “getting enough sleep helps your body to recharge, let’s your muscles rebuild, gives your mind a break and can improve your overall mood.” But it seems like taking a rest day once a week as the Bible stated, has become a “lost practice” in our world today. People feel like they’re too busy to rest. 

It is suggested the average sleep time for ages: 1) Newborn to 3 months: 14-17 hours and may vary 11-19 hours;  2) 4 to 11 months: 12-15hours and may vary 10-18 hours  3) 1 to 2yrs old: 11-14 hours and may vary 9-16 hours;  4) 3 to 5 yrs: 10-13 hours and may vary 8 to 14 hours  5) 6 to 13 yrs: 9 to 11 hours: and may vary 7 to 12 hours  6) 14 to 17 yrs: 8 to 10 hours and may vary7 to 11 hours  7) Young Adults (18-25): 7 to 9 hours and vary 6 to 11 hours  8) Adults (26 to 64): 7 to 9 hours and vary 6 to 10 hours  9) Adults (65 and older): 7 to 8 hours and vary 5 to 9 hours. 

So, the body is made to rest! Psalm 127:2 (KJV) says: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: For so He giveth His beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2 (NIV) says: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves.”  

Matthew 6:25, 32-34: encourages us to go to sleep and stop worrying! It says: “Therefore, I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”