Blessed Rest

Today, my husband and children let me sleep...and it's Friday. For me, Friday is usually a crunch day. Sunday is Mother's Day, but for me, it's the biggest day of the week. As a pastor, I work 12+ hours on Sunday, so Mother's Day will have to be celebrated...today.

Today, I got up at 6:00 a.m., because I was getting one text message after another. A church member had been asking for prayer in a group text, and much to my delight, he had reported during the night that he had been healed. Praise God! I've been preaching on prayer for the last 6 weeks, and I know that God is moving. I see it. It's tangible, and I see a shift in the verbiage used when my people are talking about the circumstances in their lives and in the church. I'm so thankful, but I'm so tired.

As an introvert, I need time to decompress. This week was abnormally very busy with conferences, meetings, counseling sessions, an annual report that's due, and an unexpected sermon assignment thrown into the usual mix. And did I mention, that it's Friday, and I'm tired. When I delightfully (not being sarcastic here) at 6:00 a.m. to the sound of the group collectively praising God, I was excited to see yet again, the power of Christ in prayer. He is moving in the lives of my people. And I'm so glad.

But I'm tired. I went back to bed after my husband left for work at 8:00, and I slept until 10:30. It was awesome! I smiled when I woke.

My introverted tendencies crave for me to spend time decompressing. All of the activity this week hasn't made me physically tired, amazingly. I'm physically ready to run a few miles. But inwardly, I need to sleep. I need to decompress. I need to spend time with Jesus, not just praying for the needs of my church body, but to seek the face of the one that loves me most. He is my rest, my peace, my source of comfort. But I don't just turn to him for something. I gaze upon the face of my Savior because HE is my rest.

The fact that the Holy Spirit lives in me gives me the strength and the desire to carry on. But turning my eyes upon Him in prayer gives me life. He is my life.

Sleep is blessed. But his presence is rest.