Slow down and thank God

Where has 2023 gone? We are into the final quarter of the year and the pumpkin spice is flowing in full force. Autumn leaves are putting on a display of beauty and outlet stores already have Christmas trees and 30-foot-tall yard ornaments ready for purchase.

It seems that in the final three months of the year everything gets put in high gear, and we rush from one celebration to another.

Autumn quickly turns to smells of turkey, and the smells of turkey quickly turn to thoughts of sugarplums and candy canes.

The book of Psalms chapter 62 verse 5 says, “For God alone, O my soul wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.”

One of Satan’s biggest tricks on mankind is making us busy. Schedules that used to be contained in a planner now must utilize multiple calendars on a smartphone or tablet in order to keep up with our lives and the lives of our families.

But think about the beginning of the Bible. God created the earth in six days and on the seventh day He rested. Have you ever wondered why?

God wasn’t tired. He was showing us an example of what we need to be doing. We work and work hard and then we rest. Not to be lazy but to reflect on all that God has done in our lives.

It has been estimated that most Americans spend 40 plus hours working and commit themselves to another six to eight hours a day with more activities.

If you look at sleep patterns, most people get less than eight hours per night and many express that they wake up feeling physically tired instead of refreshed.

When asked about the weekend, most engage in rigorous activity and not actually resting. The body does not recharge and the flesh becomes weaker.

Those die-hard habits carry over into our children and they become exhausted and have issues with focus and attention.

We need to get back to a time of rest. Many will say that they rest on Sunday. However, this rest I am talking about is given for the express purpose of honoring God. A day where we focus on Him and what he has done. We come and worship Him for who He is and we ultimately rest in Him.

The prophet Isaiah puts it this way: For they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint.

There is a blessing in slowing down and listening to the Lord. There is a blessing in waiting and taking note of what is around you.

During this last three months of 2023, slow down and thank God for everything. Our eyes can truly be opened to everything God has for us.

Take time and honor Him. Make rest a pattern in your life. Remember, the Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.