Work Hard or Rest? Hmmmm!!

I know, I know, another blog this morning, lol. But what else is there to do when you're alone in a beautiful, private, quiet location in NC? I woke up, read my verses, prayed and now time to blog.

Which brings me to my topic. I always end every blog with work hard.

Along with dream big, it's part of the way I live my life. I believe that work is something we all have to do to have anything worthwhile. And I believe that working hard toward a goal will help you gain what you want.

Imagine the mountain climbers if you will. I would venture to say that takes a LOT of strength to take hold of the side of a cliff, hold their weight until they find another place in the ledge to grip and then move to the next one. When they reach the top, they see the result of their hard work. So it stands to reason that hard work pays off.

The Word of God tells us in several places to work and what it will bring to our lives.

In Colossians 3:23, we are told: "whatever you do, work at it will all of your heart, as working for the Lord". Proverbs 13:4 speaks of a lazy man, "the soul of a sluggard desireth and hath nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat".

These two scriptures alone should encourage you to work hard at what it is you're trying to accomplish.

I also end each blog with dream big. But I have found that you can't just dream. With each dream you have, there has to be some work that goes hand in hand with it. That's in the Bible as well. The NIV version states it as follows: "Those who work the land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense". LOL That's true. If all I did was sit around all day and chant "dream big" without putting any work into the dream, what would I have? If the mountain climber stood there looking at the mountain fantasizing about reaching the peak without putting any effort into the climb, how foolish would he look? That's why I say "Work Hard and Dream Big". They go hand in hand.

But my next point is this: REST. How do you know when it's time to rest?

Well, I'm not sure I'm the best person to tell you because I rarely rest myself, lol. But I really feel that God is beginning to teach me how.

After my book event yesterday I made it my mission to rest and spend time with God. So last night I arrived in NC to a secluded location that I've needed so badly for a while. I shut off my phone and laptop and listened to the quiet as I laid in bed. This morning I woke up with a grateful heart and so far today, I've drunk in the rest and peace that only God provides. I began to read in His Word this morning about rest and I was astonished at what I found. Not only does He tell us to work, but He also lets us know that He can provide rest to us. Beginning in Genesis, we can find where even God rested. So that right there is the best example to cause us to rest.

In the Psalms, we find many verses that mention rest. The most famous verse in that book is the 23rd. It tells us how God makes us lie down in green pastures, and how He leads us beside still waters and restores our souls. I remember when I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was to take a beach towel or a blanket outside, lay it on the ground and just lie there and stare at the clouds in the sky. There was something so relaxing about that (more kids need to do that nowadays). I can imagine that's what it's like to lie down in green pastures too.

What does it mean to walk beside still waters? Well, for me, still waters are quiet. Rushing waters are loud and chaotic, but still waters have no sound. They are peaceful and calm.

And He restores my soul. One way He does that is through rest. Because I have found in my case, when I put work aside and relax, God invites me to talk and then I find myself involved in a conversation with Him and then there's rest in that.

Psalm 62:1 says "my soul finds rest in God alone".

Anyway, my point to all of this is, you have to work hard BUT you have to rest. That's something God is teaching me as I type. He has brought me rest yesterday and today. This evening I'm meeting an old friend and having dinner and not worrying about work. I'm going to rest and enjoy myself.

I want to end the blog with this scripture. Exodus 33:14, "And He said, MY presence shall go with you, and I shall give you rest".

Take some time this weekend to rest. God might show you some things you've never seen before.

I've waited a really long time for the peace and happiness that I am feeling. I hope you all have a great day and weekend.

Remember to work hard (rest,lol) and Dream Big!!

Much love,

Christy