Some days you wake just wanting to spend time with God. For me, that was today. I awoke with things I wanted to pray about and some questions to bring to Him. But, before I could even sit down to pray, I felt God was moving me in a different direction. I felt He wanted me to ask Him how He was doing today.

This led me into an entertaining and enjoyable time with God. I never ended up getting to the things I wanted to ask Him, but I never felt the desire to change the topic to my list of items. Many of us have heard and taught that prayer is a two-way conversation and sometimes we need to just be silent and listen. Today was different for me. I usually think that my listening is just waiting for Him to answer my questions or for Him to give me some insight that would be beneficial to me. Today it really did not have anything to do with me. He just wanted me to pursue Him differently... not as selfishly.

Today provided me with a new mindset on prayer. When I fly through the ACTs or skip them all together just to get to the supplications, I am communicating to God that I am only interested in Him in as much as He can help me. I hope today's nudge from God changes the way I approach my prayers.

image of Fakarava dock courtesy of Rotoava

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

For many the Christian life is anything but rest. We are encouraged each Sunday with spending daily time with God in prayer AND Bible study. We have two or three meetings a week at church. Of course there are prayer meetings, men/women's groups, accountability times, etc. Then we have our day jobs. And, don't forget to spend time with the family. Where are we to squeeze in the promised rest?

Jesus' example doesn't give us much hope either. He spends long hours ministering to people then pulls away for extended prayer. He seems constantly busy.

He also seems to lead the disciples into the same busyness. Look at Mark 6. Jesus sends out the twelve for them to try some ministry on their own. They see success, but when they come back to share their success stories, they hear news that John the Baptist is beheaded. Unfortunately there were too many people around for the disciples to get time with Jesus, so Jesus promises them some time alone and rest. As they go to separate themselves from the crowd, the crowd followed them and Jesus gave a day long sermon. The disciples try to encourage Jesus to send the crowd away, but Jesus gets them to feed the crowd. After this miracle, Jesus tells the disciples to go across the lake. The simple act of rowing was even difficult because of a storm that Jesus knew was coming. Battered, tired, and confused the disciples get to the other side to be rushed again by the crowds bringing the sick to Jesus. Where is the rest?

The problem with rest is that we have the definition wrong. When we think of rest, we see ourselves on a hammock at the beach sipping a drink with an umbrella. We think rest is doing nothing.

Jesus' definition of rest is different. He says come to me and I will give you rest. At the very least we have to have motion towards Jesus. It is not the absence of doing anything. Rest redefines work, not replaces it.

• Work has been our striving to accomplish tasks.
• Rest is allowing Jesus to lead us into the work He wants to accomplish through us.

Jesus exemplified this rest by doing only what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19).

None of the items at the beginning of the post are bad. In fact it is good to to spend time with God in prayer and Bible study. It is good to do your day job well and spend time with your family.

The problem arises when you see these things as tasks to check off in hopes of getting to your rest. Invite Jesus into your tasks. Look for Him. When you find Him, your tasks will no longer be a burden but will be a source of life.

John 4 starts with Jesus tired from His journey (ever think of Jesus being tired?). The disciples are off trying to find him some food. Jesus starts to minister to a lady by the well. Revival starts. And, Jesus is refreshed. Jesus says our food is in the spiritual not the just the natural. O Lord, open our eyes that we may see the work you are doing around us. Help us to do only what we see You doing and not strive to do things in order to find you. You are a good Father. We believe You will take care of us as we follow You.

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I had the privilege to hear from Carey Casey, the CEO of the National Center for Fathering, on Friday morning. He shared a story about his youngest son Chance that I would like to share.

When he is not traveling, Carey gets up early to spend time with God in a set room in his house. A some point Chance decided to get up with him and sit on his lap while his dad spends time with God. One day Carey asked his son why he enjoyed sitting on his lap. He said:

• Your lap is warm.
• I feel safe.
• I like your coffee breath.

This is cute story, but Carey followed this by saying that God whispered to him saying, I want you so close to me that you smell my breath.

I hope we never get over the great privilege of being close to God and having his desire for us to come to him. What an amazing thought of being that close to God. To sit in His lap and feel His protection as our dad.

• How do you get that close to God?