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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR OCTOBER 14, 2023

The Gift of Rest

By Andrew Sulgit (West Virginia, USA)

READ PSALM 4:1-8

"I will lie down and fall asleep in peace because you alone, Lord, let me live in safety."

PSALM 4:8 (CEB)

"'I frequently fall asleep while praying. I used to feel guilty, but I’ve decided to look at it a different way.

My job demands that I be on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year. I could be at home making dinner or on vacation when I receive a work-related call, text, or email. This constant connection to the workplace can have long-term effects and often leads to exhaustion. At the end of a hectic day, bedtime prayer can be a way to decompress, discuss the day’s challenges with God, and enter into a time of rest and reflection.

So instead of feeling guilty, I’ve decided to embrace the blessing that rest can be. Rest has many benefits for physical, mental, and spiritual health. Jesus took time away from the crowds and his followers to find needed rest.

Just as hard work honors God, so do our times of rest. Words from Psalm 23 tell us that God wants us to enjoy quiet moments: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul” (vv. 2-3). Let’s not feel guilty when rest presents itself but recognize it for the spiritual gift that it is."'

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Dear God, lead us to adopt the model that Jesus set for us. Help us to seek physical, mental, and spiritual rest and to welcome your restoration of our souls." Amen.

Psalm 4:1-8

"'1 Answer me when I cry out, my righteous God! Set me free from my troubles! Have mercy on me! Listen to my prayer! 2 How long, you people, will my reputation be insulted? How long will you continue to love what is worthless and go after lies? Selah 3 Know this: the LORD takes personal care of the faithful. The LORD will hear me when I cry out to him. 4 So be afraid, and don’t sin! Think hard about it in your bed and weep over it! Selah 5 Bring righteous offerings, and trust the LORD! 6 Many people say, “We can’t find goodness anywhere. The light of your face has left us, LORD!” 7 But you have filled my heart with more joy than when their wheat and wine are everywhere! 8 I will lie down and fall asleep in peace because you alone, LORD, let me live in safety."' We do cry out to God to have mercy on us as we maneuver through it all. Do your best to show His mercy and be righteous in the things that you do. Bless you on this day! Joe