Use the Present Well

“USE THE PRESENT WELL”

A devotional looking at how God understands our needs including our need for rest especially in today’s hectic pace so “Use the Present Well” and take time to recharge and connect with God and your loved ones.

THOUGHT: 

It is all over the news. It’s in between commercials, and the radio programs, and in the mutterings around the workplace – it’s everywhere. Here ye! Here Ye! Don’t forget it’s time to turn your clocks back one hour this weekend! It’s that time of year when we gain back the hour we lost in the springtime. Frankly, it becomes confusing and if I am honest, I despise the springtime jump ahead. Yet, the “fall back” part is so wonderful! Now, do I believe that one single hour changes my life? Probably not. Yet just the thought of 60 more minutes of rest is enticing and encouraging.

God knew that we would require rest. He created the seventh day specifically for that need, the overwhelming need for rest. Looking at the scripture, we can break it down and see the intent of the scripture. First, God “blessed” the seventh day. When God blesses something, not only does it become better, but it is also a proclamation that it is what God wants for us. God cannot and does not bless anything that is not good or not intended. When we ask for Gods’ blessings, we are asking Him to acknowledge that he wants something for us too. When God blesses something, it always becomes better or stronger. Gods’ purposes are always made known through His creation and we profit from His purpose, and we are blessed because of His Plan.

Then, we see the words “…and made it holy.”  Holy means “dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred” and “morally and spiritually excellent.”  God thought enough of a day of rest to make it holy. So, He created it and it was so perfect, that He made it “holy.”  It was not just a side thought or an aside or a theatrical description. No, it was to be separated from the rest of the week. It was meant to be “excellent.”  It was meant to be FOR God, for Gods’ purposes, and for us.

The ending of the scripture says “…because on it He rested from all the work He had created.”  It does not say we should be “resting” all the time. Instead, it says that after we work, after we create, then are we worthy of rest. I can remember weeks that I put in a good 5 – 6 days of work and accomplished my goals. When I took the seventh day to rest, it seemed so comfortable because I could look back with content on a job well done. The rest was a reward for the efforts put forth. In contrast, when I have had frustrating weeks or my endeavors are fruitless or I am just plain lazy, rest does not come easily. I feel self-proclaimed guilt. I feel a gnawing at my mind of those things left unaccomplished.

In Gods’ Plan, we are expected to work. That does not mean we have to work outside the home. In fact, it certainly doesn’t even mean we have to have a “job” as so defined by society. What it does mean though is that whatever tasks we undertake, we should be grateful for that work and then subsequently, thank God for the resulting rest. I believe God wants us to utilize our work to help others in the glorification of His Kingdom. That could be, as a mother, holding our children close to us as we see them through their young lives with the Bible, the church, and their faith in Jesus Christ. It could be getting a job so that we can support ourselves and are able to nurture our families as God intended. It could be doing volunteer work to help the homeless, the poor, and the needy. “Work” takes many forms. Yet, as promised by God, throughout whatever work we are called to do, we can and are directed to look forward to a day of rest. When we rest, we are following Gods’ commands. We are utilizing the time in present fruitfully and then are rewarded to rest, glorious rest. During that rest, we will often be given the quiet time we need to fully understand what we need to do next. When we use the present well, the future will unfold before us in a clear and holy way. We cannot literally turn time back and relive experiences. Yet, we can use the present as God intended for us. We can use the present well for the future of God’s Plan.

PRAYER: 

Our Creator, our God, hear our prayer. Please show us what work you will have us do. Help us to build Your Kingdom. Help us be a vital part of Your Plan. We thank you also for reprieve from our work and a day of rest. Thank you for creating the world, including a day to rest and recoup and learn what you want us to do next. Thank you for the opportunity to work and to rest. Thank you for the peace that only You can give. Thank You for Your Plan. AMEN.