Rest: An FCA Devotional For CompetitorsSample

Special Rest

Ready: “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.” - Hebrews 4:9-10

Set: Call us crazy (and some people did!), but recently my wife and I had our kids take a season off from sports. We were spent. And we were guilty of three underlying hindrances that were leading to burnout:

1. We had pride. A couple of our kids were selected to play for pretty competitive teams, and we were excited. As a result, we were willing to restructure our lives and even sacrifice rest in pursuit of belonging. 

2. We had become self-reliant. At some point the “work” part—our own effort and striving—overtook the faith part of trusting and believing. We fell for the trap of believing that His plans could be thwarted if we didn’t say “yes” to everything. When God says to rest and calls rest a “gift” to us, we should value and protect that gift. 

3. We were operating out of fear. In some subtle ways, we believed the lie that if we ever said “no” the kids would miss out and fall behind. But what we found was that our rest actually served to refresh every aspect of our lives and renew a deep love for the game.

Rest is an essential part of a healthy life in mind, body, and spirit. It’s a reminder that God is in control; we are not. And, ultimately, rest allows God to remain Lord of your life.  – Jimmy Page

Go:
1. Do you get enough rest? If no, why not?
2. Which of these do you relate to most: pride, self-reliance, or fear? Why?
3. What change would you have to make to recharge in rest?

Overtime: Father, please don’t let me fall into the trap of jamming my life with activity. Help me to be bold enough to say “no” to what keeps me from a “yes” to You. Amen.
This text appeared in FCA Magazine’s Fit 4 Ever column titled “I Will Rest When I Die.” To read the column in its entirety, click http://www.fca.org/magazine-story/2016/12/29/i-will-rest-when-i-die