WATCHWORD:
3 “You must not have any other god but me. 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day, no one in your household may do any work. Exodus 20:3-10
“And the Lord said, My presence shall go with you and I will give you rest”. Exodus 33:14
Meditation:
Power of Rest
Every now and then I come across a devotional that captures the purpose of these meditations. I share this from Joyce Meyer’s Ending Your Day Right, for July 12, 2025:
“This (Exodus 33:14) was God’s reply to Moses when he asked about the particulars of the mission he had been given and how he could get to know God better. God simply assured Moses that His presence would be with him and give him rest. This was considered by God to be a great privilege. To Him, it was all that Moses needed.
What was true for Moses is true for you. As much as you would like to know God’s plans and ways for you, all you really need to know is that His presence will be with you wherever He sends you and in whatever He gives you to do.
So, when you get concerned that things are not going the way you think they should, just remember that God’s presence is with you and enjoy the rest he promised to give you.”
I think we underestimate the power of ‘rest’. We are not designed for 24-hour non-stop thinking, or working or even creating. God gave us a clear model of that when He set aside a day of rest. I have heard any number of sermons based on the need for us to recharge our batteries, to set aside worries, and to make a fresh start.
I came across some detailed notes I took while listening to a sermon on the topic of “Day of Rest”, where the Pastor cited the Fourth Commandment (Remember…the Sabbath day by keeping it holy). He spoke of his own experience of keeping that day of rest regardless of what might intrude. He cited consequences for not honoring our rest, while there are blessings when you do. He emphasized that the Commandment does not identify “Sabbath” as Sunday, only that on the seventh day God rested from His labors of creation, and referred to it as a sacred day, protected, not to be violated.
When I was college dean, I always started the new school year with staff training. Included in those exercises was my emphasis on the need to guard against ineffective work with students because of exhaustion, burnout, and charged them to set aside time for recharging. I was not always good at practicing what I preached so I knew a bit about the “consequences”.
To be clear, “rest” in the midst of struggles we all face, is not really the point. Yes, we have exhausted ourselves at times, and find ourselves separated from our comfort zones, but what “breaks” or times of rest have you practiced in order ro restore and to recharge? Your rest is part of God’s plan for your life. Pay attention to it, it’s important to honor your rest which is honoring God. Amen.
Morning Song and Prayers:
I Love You Lord, And I lift my voice
To worship You, Oh, my soul rejoice!
Take joy my King, In what You hear
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.
We exalt you, oh lord. I love you, Lord
Amen.
Dear Lord, as we rise to meet each new day, please let us be filled with Your spirit. Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness. Let us desire to become more like you and to worship you in all we do. Help us desire these things so much more than the sin that entices us. Thank you for always going before us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
