Cease striving and know that I am God. ~ Psalm 46:10
Whoever dubbed our times "The Aspirin Age" didn't miss it very far. It is correct to assume there has never been a more stress-ridden society than ours. For many, gone are the days of enjoying bubbling brooks along winding pathways or taking long strolls near the beach. The relaxed bike ride through the local park has been replaced with the roar of a motorcycle whipping through busy traffic. The easy-come, easy-go lifestyle of the farm has been preempted by a hectic urban family going in six different directions...existing on instant dinners, shouting matches, strained relationships, too little sleep, and too much television.
Add financial setbacks, unanswered emails, obesity, loneliness, a ringing cell phones, unplanned pregnancies, fear of cancer, misunderstanding, materialism, alcoholism, drugs, and an occasional death; then subtract the support of the family unit, divide by dozens of opinions, multiply by 365 days a year, and you have the makings of madness! Stress has become a way of life; it is the rule rather than the exception.
~Chuck Swindoll
Charles Hummel calls this "the tyranny of the urgent" - a fitting description. Jesus addressed this problem when He visited with Martha and Mary. Martha, rather than spending time with the Lord, was running around doing all sorts of things to prepare for the dinner they were to have; and she didn't think it was fair that Mary wasn't helping her, but was sitting at Jesus' feet, listening. The Lord said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." ~Luke 10:41-42
Time to rest does not find itself. It must be found or made. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we must be diligent about entering into rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).
Whoever dubbed our times "The Aspirin Age" didn't miss it very far. It is correct to assume there has never been a more stress-ridden society than ours. For many, gone are the days of enjoying bubbling brooks along winding pathways or taking long strolls near the beach. The relaxed bike ride through the local park has been replaced with the roar of a motorcycle whipping through busy traffic. The easy-come, easy-go lifestyle of the farm has been preempted by a hectic urban family going in six different directions...existing on instant dinners, shouting matches, strained relationships, too little sleep, and too much television.
Add financial setbacks, unanswered emails, obesity, loneliness, a ringing cell phones, unplanned pregnancies, fear of cancer, misunderstanding, materialism, alcoholism, drugs, and an occasional death; then subtract the support of the family unit, divide by dozens of opinions, multiply by 365 days a year, and you have the makings of madness! Stress has become a way of life; it is the rule rather than the exception.
~Chuck Swindoll
Charles Hummel calls this "the tyranny of the urgent" - a fitting description. Jesus addressed this problem when He visited with Martha and Mary. Martha, rather than spending time with the Lord, was running around doing all sorts of things to prepare for the dinner they were to have; and she didn't think it was fair that Mary wasn't helping her, but was sitting at Jesus' feet, listening. The Lord said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." ~Luke 10:41-42
Time to rest does not find itself. It must be found or made. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we must be diligent about entering into rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).
| This week, make time to rest. Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest awhile. ~ Mark 6:31 Listening to Jesus... |  |
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