Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
We spend so much of our lives striving for something. We work to fit in with peers, we fill our calendars with events, we climb the corporate ladder. Our children study to reach SOL goals (or whatever they’re being called these days), their evenings and weekends are filled with dance, soccer, girl scouts or AWANAs.
As a successful up-and-coming, the modern-day answer to the question, “How are you?” is “Busy.”
But how many of us, when the day is done and the party is over and we’re finally alone in our homes, are just plain worn out? We kick off our shoes and get into some comfy sweats and sigh deeply. We long for the weekends, vacation, a holiday or just a day off, but even then we fill those to the brim, finally exclaiming, “I need a vacation from my vacation!”
Jesus calls us to rest.
Join me for the next month as we learn to rest. Together, let’s take a deep breath.
Inhale. Let’s look at things we should rest from – the busy schedule, trying to please everyone, our own perfectionism.
Exhale. We’ll ponder things we should rest in – God’s strength, His promises, His grace.
Inhale. Let’s take time to let a peaceful song wash over us, soaking in words of hope.
Exhale. We’ll meditate on scriptures that encourage us to rest.
It’s time for 31 days of blogging as part of the Nester‘s annual challenge. Last October 1200+ joined the call. Take time to read through some of the other bloggers. (And if you comment and have a 31 Days post, I would love to return the visit and check out your post, so be sure to let me know). Come back to this page anytime to catch up on all 31 posts.
Together, let’s heed the call to rest.
Day 1: Rest from Expectations
Day 2: Rest in Worship and Praise
Day 3: A Place of Quiet Rest
Day 4: Rest in God’s Strength
Day 5: Sabbath Rest
Day 6: Rest in the Beauty of Creation
Day 7: Rest Provides Margin
Day 8: Rest right where you are
Day 9: Rest in Wonder
Day 10: On What are you Resting?
Day 11: Rest for your Weekend
Day 12: Cracked Pedestals
Day 13: Rest from Idolatry to Worship
Day 14: I took a break, which is explained on Day 16
Day 15: Take Down The Walls – a book review
Day 16: A Letter for You (yes, you)
Day 17: The Peace That Seems Impossible
Day 18: Rest for Those Who are Worn
Day 19: You Will Find Him Here
Day 20: God is Glorious
Day 21: Jesus, I am Resting, Resting
Day 22: When Words Fail
Day 23: Day off to rest
Day 24: Altogether Separate – a Five Minute Friday
Day 25: Truth to Rest Upon
Day 26: Nothing is Wasted
Day 27: A Sort of Coming Home
Day 28: Tired and Heavy-Laden
Day 29: Rest Day
Day 30: Rest in your Mess
Day 31: True Rest – the Beginning to Never Needing
I’m linking up with these blogs: 
Claygirlsings 
Peggy
/ September 30, 2013This is awesome! I was going to join in, and also write on rest but felt lead to step away from that much pressure! So…I’ll be reading your posts!! 😀
claygirlsings
/ September 30, 2013I’m already feeling challenged and this was just the intro post. Thanks for your comment. Knowing others are reading really holds me accountable to keep going.
Peggy
/ October 1, 2013Sometimes the best fodder for our blogs is through the challenges we set for ourselves! Don’t worry, there’s lots of grace!
Jessi
/ September 30, 2013As someone just about to re-enter after a 3 month sabbatical, I love and truly appreciate your topic of ‘rest’! I look forward to reading your daily doses of reminders for me that though I’m back to my responsibilities…I still need regular resting in Him!
claygirlsings
/ September 30, 2013Some sabbaticals can be very busy times, hopefully yours was restful and renewing. Pace yourself as you step back in and be mindful of what you are saying “yes” to. Do you blog?
Jessi
/ October 2, 2013Our sabbatical was specifically broken down to focus on three things…rest/refresh/revision…so yes, it was actually a great time. We have great accountability in place for us to put out what goals and ideas we want to be held to, which now definitely include much more of a sane pace than we were keeping previously.
I do blog… I thought my gravatar might link to it, but I realize I don’t think it does… I’m over at ‘Finding my Voice’… http://www.jessicaclemmer.com
claygirlsings
/ October 2, 2013rest/refresh/revision – sounds great!
With gravatar you have to go into your profile and link up your blog or it won’t show. It’s nice once you do, then every comment has it linked. I will be checking out your blog soon.
Janelle
/ September 30, 2013Great topic, and I love your inhale/exhale explanation. Sometimes I just need to stop and take a deep breath – and what’s better to breathe than God’s promises? My topic (“mountain mornings”) is also about pausing from the hectic activities we fill our days with. Excited to see what’s ahead on your blog.
claygirlsings
/ September 30, 2013Thanks for stopping by. I almost feel like our topic intersect in a great way. I remember taking time to rest and enjoy the mountains of Virginia. So peaceful.
lindseylearns
/ September 30, 2013YES! I think this is very timely for me. I have been trying to resist the urge to “do, do, do” all the time. It’s a constant battle. I’m looking forward to reading your posts. 🙂
claygirlsings
/ September 30, 2013I think resting comes hard to many of us. It will be a challenge to apply this one as the month progresses.
Ethel M Miller
/ October 1, 2013Janice, you have hit the nail on the head squarely. I am looking forward to this month of “resting”. With all the jumble of the political stuff on TV, I am ready for more encouragement to just REST in the Lord and His Word. Not only should the TV be turned off
Ethel M Miller
/ October 1, 2013I touched the wrong key and didn’t finish my thought. What should be turned off? all the other devices that interrupt us in an instant. I loved my 45 minute ride to the school where I taught because NOBODY could reach me there. It was time to sing and breath and listen to the Lord. Thanking you in advance for the blessings your will call us to enjoy just by resting.
claygirlsings
/ October 2, 2013It’s good to note that there are times even in busy-ness where we can find moments of rest, like a morning commute.
beckydaye
/ October 1, 2013I am so thankful that you shared your link. This is such an important topic. It makes me sad every time I hear someone use the “busy” word. And of course, I am guilty of it myself, but Jesus wants so much more for us. I wish we would really understand this. So thank you! I look forward to following along.
Mine is a little bit different, but I hope you will follow along when you are able! Best part of blogging for me is the community!
claygirlsings
/ October 2, 2013I love the 31 Days community – it was a huge part of last year’s challenge.
Jenifer
/ October 3, 2013Oh yes and amen! Life has been so exhaustingly (I don’t even think that’s a word, ha!) busy lately. I am learning guard my rest time.
Thanks for linking up with Woman to Woman’s Word Filled Wednesday! Join us again next week. God bless!
Julie Sunne
/ October 3, 2013What a great 31-day series! Rest is definitely something I need to work on.
Simply Beth
/ October 4, 2013And I will be heading out tomorrow for 8 days of rest with my husband! Well…part of it will be work, but there will be lots of time to rest. Thank you for linking this up for Three Word Wednesday. Your 31 Days series is a blessing…such a great topic!! Have a wonderful weekend.
Christa Sterken (@Csterken)
/ October 8, 2013This is an important topic, I am sure craving rest right now. Even doing the 31 days I am wondering if it is worth it
claygirlsings
/ October 8, 2013I get that. I’m really having to be intentional about my time and my choices this month. I blogged a little about that on Day 7. But I also found it helpful to take intentional time off last year, indicating it in a post, When Life Comes First. You could do a two sentence post that says, “today to embrace home (your topic), I’m spending it with the people in my home. See you back here tomorrow.” And then rest in a day off. 🙂 We all need that sometimes.