It's the third day of the New Year, and for some of us, it has been a slow start. Linda and I are still in Baltimore with her parents, and we have been having sinus and cold. The Lord reminded me of the importance of health care. The apostle John said these words to his readers, "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul (3 John 1:2)." If you have been sick, I just want to encourage you to get some rest. Even our Lord Jesus took care of the disciples by giving them rest. Mark 6:30-32 says, "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.' So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.'" Our minds can think of a million things, but our bodies can only do so much that if we do not take care of our bodies, we will eventually get sick and cannot do anything.
The condition of our bodies affects our emotions and mental state. Since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, we must take good care of it. Our bodies are the vehicles in which we can do things. If you think you need to get some rest, you need to take a rest. We need to adjust our schedule so that we can take the rest that we need. Jesus took time off from taking care of the people's needs when they needed rest. We need to take care of ourselves so that we can help others well. It reminds me of the safety instructions on the plane. The flight attendants always remind us to put the oxygen mask on our faces first before we put the mask on others, including the children. If we can breathe better, we can effectively help others. Likewise, if we are healthy, we can help others better.
The weekend is coming up. I want to encourage us to get some rest. For many of us, Christmas and New Year celebrations have been busy. Let us give our bodies rest so that we can function better.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). Why is rest important? What can I do or change to get some rest for my body?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for this new year. Please help me to take care of my body and get some rest to rejuvenate my body. I pray for the healing of everyone. You are our ultimate healer. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.