And He (Jesus) said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”  – Mark 6:31 (NKJ)

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. – Psalms 62:1 (NIV).

Rest. . .quiet. . .silence. . .away. . .salvation. These words are rarely used in today’s hustle and bustle world.  As a matter of fact it’s quite the opposite.  We load ourselves down with stuff to do only to complain that we have to no time – time to rest, time for family, time for fun, or time to spend with God.  We even hurry to wait.  Our lives overflow with rush.  It’s difficult for us to fathom slowing down. . . to have moments of quiet. . .of stillness.  We always seem to have another meeting to attend, another game to go to, another appointment to fulfill.  I could go on, but I don’t have to, you know what I’m talking about.

I think it’s difficult for me because when I am still for a moment I feel guilty.  The thought usually occurs to me, “shouldn’t I be doing something?”  Why do I feel like that?  Is it because I’ve bought into and adopted the art of hurry?  Is it due to the fact that for some strange reason, as a man, I have come to believe that if I’m not hurried I’m not being productive?  Is it because I’m so wound up I don’t think I can relax?  Is being busy the same as hurried?  I wonder.

Ortberg states that business and hurriedness are not the same.  He points to Jesus who was often busy, but never hurried.  As I think back on Jesus’ ministry he never ran anywhere, and yet He was never late to anything.  He took time to be with people.  He partied with folks.  He hung out with the apostles.  He enjoyed life!  He was busy healing, teaching, and helping, but He never was rushed.

Why is this so critical to our lives?  Men, it’s important because we become so hurried and rushed in our everyday lives that we become distracted.  We stop making time to sit with God.  When we do we want the “fast food” version of it, “Just give me what I need so I can get on with life.”  That’s not what God had in mind.  Even Jesus recognized the need to get away to a deserted place for times of refreshing and victory and redemption and hanging with the Father.

Men, I want to encourage you to look at your schedules.  Are they filled with stuff?  Is there a place or time on your calendar where you and God just get away in silence, away from the demands of life, the appointments, and the projects so you can find rest in Him?  If not, make time.  Ask God to show you where and how to make time.  Schedule a morning or an evening after the kids have gone to bed to read God’s Word and to listen for that small still voice.  Invite Him to restore and refresh you.  Take your worries and cares of the day to Him so He can help you and take that load off of you.

To make this happen takes boldness.  Do you have the boldness to say no to hurry and yes to God?

Need some rest, silence, peace, and quiet?  Only you can make that happen.

Needing to slow down myself,

Mike

So anyway. . .I’m in the 13th chapter and ran across this ~

For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. (v 36-37)

I remember reading verse 36 two years ago. My wife, Karen, had just passed away (for more info click here), I had made the move to join the staff at First Baptist North Mobile, and was working through her loss. I remember this verse because it was like God saying, “Mike, she accomplished all I wanted her to do while she was with you.” And I remember thinking something like, “Yeah, that’s right!” And I knew from then on things would be OK. I didn’t always feel like they would, but somewhere deep down I knew they would.

The interesting part of all this resides in the fact that verse 37 didn’t really hit me until yesterday. It says, “ But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.” After reading it I thought, “WOW! What a God! He raised my Savior from a grave never to experience death’s putrid decay!” For some reason I was pumped. I still am.

So what does this have to do with anything? It has to do with everything! In June I was part of a mission trip to Tanzania. We provided medical help, children’s ministry, and a pastor’s conference. In all of this we were very intentional about sharing the gospel. Part of our sharing experience included going out at night with the Jesus Film teams of Here’s Life Mission to Africa. On one of those nights I went with a team and after showing the Jesus film in Swahili I had the privilege of sharing my testimony, sharing the gospel, and inviting those in attendance to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

For some reason when I shared my testimony I included Karen’s life and death and how I had confidence in knowing that she was in heaven dancing with her Jesus and worshiping her God. I was also confident that I would see her one day. That confidence came from knowing that she and I had accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. After sharing how they, too, could have confidence that they could have a relationship with God through Christ Jesus I invited them to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. Many, many people prayed to receive Jesus that night. That was cool.
I say all that to say this, unless Jesus comes back first we will all die. We will all taste death and our wretched bodies will decay. Jesus, on the other hand, will never taste death again. He will never feel it’s ghastly clenches around Him ever again. To be honest, that’s the kind of Savior I want. I want a Savior who has tasted the sweetness of victory over Satan and death.
If I know one thing about men it’s that they do not like to lose. I don’t know a man who can stand in front of me and say, “Oh, it doesn’t really matter who wins or who loses” and really mean it. I like to win. I don’t do anything without the thought of winning dwelling somewhere in my being.

What about you? You like to win? Have you tasted victory through Jesus Christ? You can. Click here to view an interactive presentation of how you can know for sure you can and will have victory. Or pick up the phone and call 1-800-NEED HIM. There are people there who want to and will help you find victory.

Begin living in victory,

Mike