A mother complained to her doctor about her daughter’s strange eating habits. “All day long she lies in bed and eats baking yeast and car wax. What will happen to her, doctor?” the mother inquired. “Eventually,” said the doctor, “she will rise and shine!”

We all know that dangers of bad habits. Public Service Announcement: If you are looking for support and help to overcome your hurts, habits, and hangups please consider attending The Mission Church of Lexington’s recovery ministry. Renovate meets every Monday evening at 6:30pm on campus (3288 Beaver Creek Drive). You will find a great team of trained leaders, a Bible based recovery program, and many supportive friends that want to help so that you can experience victory in Christ.

Psalm 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am ^[a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I have often said “I would rather burn out than rust out” … however, this phrase is not sound advice… God doesn’t want us to burn out or rust out because He wants us to be active in our service to Him for the long haul.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Rest is not a nicety but a necessity. There is a reason that sleep deprivation is a form of torture. Our bodies and our minds need rest to recuperate and to refresh. It has been said that at times the most spiritual thing you can do it to take a nap! Can I get an amen???

The Bible teaches us about the principle of Sabbath rest. The Lord intended this to be a blessing and not a burden to His children. The Sabbath concept is God’s idea for his image bearers (humans) to rest from work and to rest for work. God wants us to be passionately pursuing His will for our lives… but He also knows we need time to rest in Him and to rely upon Him.

Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

Mark 2:27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God;

Action Steps: Make sure you are getting a good 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If you are not getting this amount of sleep, you might need to change your pre-bedtime routine. You will find it helpful to eliminate all electronics for at least 1 hour before you want to fall asleep. Additionally, many people have found melatonin as a helpful and natural sleep aid. You can find many other practical suggestions with a simple internet search or a consultation with your doctor.

Here is a little motto to remember- Give God the first part of your day (daily devotion) and give God the first part of your week (Sunday worship and rest).

2- Take Time to Remember

Deuteronomy 6:12 Then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

John 14:26 But the ^[a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Repetition is the mother of all learning. We need to be reminded and we need to remember (over and over again) the goodness and the graciousness of God. We need constant and consistent reminders about who God is, what He has done and is doing for us, and our great dependance upon Him. This is why we need to be in God’s Word daily, this is why we need to be in worship together weekly, and this is why we need to spend time with other Christians faithfully.

Action Step– Try to practice the presence of God. Remind yourself all throughout the day that God is with you and Christ is in you. Discipline yourself to maintain consistent communication with the Lord through prayer as you go about your daily routines. Ask yourself frequently “What would Jesus want me to do right now that would be most pleasing to Him?”

3- Take Time to Reflect

 Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you^[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

When the Bible speaks about meditation it is not talking about eastern transcendental meditation… it is not wise to “empty” our mind… Biblical mediation is not emptying our minds but filling it with Scripture. We should be so saturated with God’s Word that we are able to think God’s thoughts after Him. We strive to be so versed in the Bible that it transforms our attitudes and actions both in conscious and in subconscious ways.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech^[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your ^[b]reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Think about this hypothetical scenario… If you were stranded on a remote island and you did not have access to electrical devices, internet or the Bible, how many Scripture verses would you have memorized? How much of God’s Word do you have stored in your heart, mind, and soul?

Action Step– Choose a verse and begin memorizing it today. One way you can do this is by using a 3×5 note card. Just write the verse on one side and the reference on the other. Review it daily. Add a new note card and verse upon completion. Just think, if you did this 1 time per week you would have 52 verses memorized in just 1 year!

4- Take Time to Recreate

 Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart ^[a]does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Christians don’t have to walk around looking like they have been baptized in pickle juice or that they just took communion with lemon juice! God wants his children to have fun and to enjoy life in Christ honoring ways. Play board games with friends, go hiking or camping in God’s nature, ride a bike at the park, swim, wood working, athletics, painting, the list could go on and on and on.

God is not a cosmic killjoy. Jesus wants us to do the things we like to do for His glory and the good of others. One of my favorite quotes is from an Olympic athlete from many years ago… his name was Eric Liddell and he famously said “I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Action Step– Is there a hobby or an activity that you have been thinking of learning more about our getting started in? Maybe now is the time to make it happen!

FYI- The Mission Church hosts a monthly Basketball Fellowship. It’s a great time to exercise and build friendships! If you are interested please let me know at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

5- Take Time to Repent

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven ^[a]is at hand.”

Many people attempt to stay so busy they don’t have time to do honest reflection with the Lord. They need constant activity and noise, so they won’t be alone with their thoughts. They will do anything they can to keep distracted from their conscious screaming that there is something wrong! This approach to life is equivalent to hearing the engine of your vehicle making a terrible sound but instead of taking it to the garage for repairs you simply turn the music up loader to drown out the problem! We can try to mask our troubled spirit for a time, but the stress and anxiety will eventually rear its ugly head in our lives and in our relationships.

Numbers 32:23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Unconfessed sin in a Christians life will not change our relationship with God but it will change our fellowship with Him. Once we are saved, we are safe and secure in God’s forever family. God will never ever kick us out… but when we have unconfessed sin in our life it will steal our joy, our peace, and our usefulness with the Lord.

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

2-              Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org

3-              Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) 

                  and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.

4-              Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex

5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”