Resolution to Rest

It's that time again... New years resolutions time. Yup. Mine this year is to do more for myself, and that includes rest. I don't mean sleeping and being lonely at home... I mean things that keep me sane, things that I enjoy doing, things that don't give me UNrest. Sure it sounds selfish, but someone told me that you sometimes have to serve yourself so that you can better serve God and others.

Exodus 31:17 (NLT)
It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.'"

Stepping back: As leaders, we tend to over-serve. I don't just mean in a church setting, though that's also included. We serve others all the time if we are real leaders... Just that it's not always front and centre stage. I know for me I have a lot of extracurricular activities, and I've resolved to scale back on some and focus on a select few. Here's why: in volleyball, you get no points by over-serving (out), or under-serving (net). Find the balance. If you take a few steps back from over-serving, you'll get it right in the court. Even God rested on the 7th day.





Proverbs 22:24-25 (NIV)
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, [25] or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.

Purging: Sometimes we surround ourselves with toxic people. Sure, Jesus associated with sinners, but that never caused Him to sin. From a toxicology standpoint, when associating with toxins that get into your system and poison you, it's time to step away and distance yourself from them. I'm trying to purge my life of things that I know poison me. By allowing the investment of so much of myself into them, I turned the poisons into false idols. Time to step away.





Romans 2:6-7 (NIV)
God "will give to each person according to what he has done." [7] To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Persistence: I have vowed to spend more fun times with my friends. It's my equivalent of that resolution people make to go to the gym: they always say they'll do it but don't. In light of the tough things that have ruined so much, I'm going to try to be that fun person God intended for me to be. It's going to be tough... But like the gym, the small efforts every time go towards both emotional and health benefits. And laughing builds abs!




The challenge: this year, do you need to take a step back from something and trust instead? Are you poisoning yourself? Do you need to endure through something? Every second is a chance for resolution with Him. Make His will your resolution.