I have been sitting on the couch today after getting a phone call that our daughter was sick….. When I picked her up I realized from her behavior, that her symptoms from a concussion three weeks ago had come back. After researching quickly, it is quite normal if you have pushed yourself too much. A weekend filled with all kinds of wonderful activities for a young teenage girl at Christmas time had pushed her too far. It all came swooping in this morning while she was at school, completely unannounced. A concussion supposedly is a shut down of the brain, or a restart of the brain, and rest is what helps the brain to come back to the healthy place it had been. Apparently, if you push it too much, the brain does another shut down because it really needs rest to heal.

She needed and needs more rest, even though she did not want it. She has not wanted to miss anything fun, good or exciting.

As I have sat couch-side, I have been reflecting. God has created such sweet rest or Sabbath. He even rested.

I have been reminded how often I don’t value the rest God valued. He esteemed it so much He created it and partook in it. There are many things He has done for our benefit, because we need it. But the Sabbath God created, He then, on the seventh day rested…..

Genesis 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

How interesting if I get up too soon from the rest all those same symptoms, whether physically or spiritually, come swooping back in completely unannounced. A spiritual concussion, so to say….

I don’t value rest. I have to learn to value rest quickly… Right now if I don’t learn how to value rest and how to actually rest in that rest, my spiritual and physical health is a stake.

And if I don’t learn to value rest, my daughters health is at stake. I will unknowingly let her put herself in harms way.

This time of year, it is not convenient to take a break, to sit in stillness…. That can happen January 2nd. Sometimes Our Father has different plans, and I can either disagree and struggle with Him on His timing, or I can enter into the rest He knows I need.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
Psalm 116:7

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29

Really, who am I that I would act or say to God something He created, I don’t need…..

One of our children will get the opportunity to use their gifting this week, and even their heart’s concern is they may be a distraction, that eyes may see them instead of Jesus. Their desire is people won’t miss the experience of meeting with their heavenly Father. So we chatted about this topic….

Our conversation reminded me of John who was sent only as a messenger. Even John knew, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I (John) must decrease”….

It is such a fine line between self-promotion vs God-promotion. It is important to seek, pray and ask for even the deep desire to see Him lifted high, to see Him greater, to see His name in flashing lights. I am encouraged to ask God for the desires of my heart, and if the desires of my heart are “out of whack,” or “self-focused” I can even approach Him and ask for Him to change those desires.

If we are given the opportunity to have flashing lights with our name, or have an opportunity to speak, sing, dance or anything that gives us a public forum…. If our name is highlighted, we must take the opportunity to highlight His great name much more.

When John said I must decrease, he didn’t say both he and Jesus must decrease. It is important we remember how to increase our Heavenly Father when He gives us the forum to do so. John was well known, and in some cities more well known than Jesus. But he knew his purpose was to exalt Jesus far above himself. In those cities where John’s name was more known, he had greater work to do in lifting up the name of Jesus far above the name of John.

Oh Jesus, please continue to place in me the desires that fall in line with your heart.