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READ: EXODUS 20:8-11; MARK 1:21-22, 32-38; EPHESIANS 2:4-10\n\n\n\nImagine this: Cars zoom by as you sit on the side of the road. You hope no one you know sees you stranded, your car out of gas. You can\u2019t believe you forgot to fill up the tank! Your brother even reminded you this morning. In humility, you wait for him to come to your rescue. And now you\u2019ll be late for soccer practice.\n\n\n\nWith school, sports, friends, family, clubs, social media, jobs, youth group, volunteering, college applications, and so\u2026much\u2026more, there is A LOT to do. It\u2019s no wonder we turn to stimulants such as caffeine, sugar, and screens to feel more alert and keep up with life. But these things can\u2019t sustain us, and eventually we crash. They mask the real need: rest.\n\n\n\nRegular rest refuels our bodies, enabling us to do more than we otherwise could. Ironically, we can actually do more in less time when we rest. And here\u2019s the secret: one of the benefits of resting in God\u2019s presence is that it allows Him to refuel us and refresh our souls (Psalm 23:1-3), thereby giving us the energy\u2014and the wisdom\u2014to do the good work He has for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). This type of spiritually rejuvenating rest is called a Sabbath, which God demonstrated for us when He rested after the work of creating the universe (Exodus 20:11).\n\n\n\nJesus is God the Son, and He is also Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). During His ministry, Jesus regularly spent time in the Father\u2019s presence to rest and refuel for the work before Him. For example, in Mark 1:35, \u201cJesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray,\u201d making time to meet with God the Father after a very busy day of healing and preaching.\n\n\n\nWe too can spend time resting in God\u2019s presence, being refueled for the work He has given us to do. And even when we overdo it and end up drained, He has so much compassion on us. As we seek Him, He will help us learn to live in the rhythms of work and rest. \u2022 Tracy Mikula\n\n\n\n\u2022 Have you ever taken a Sabbath rest, pausing from work and busyness, even if all the tasks or to-do lists aren\u2019t finished? What was it like? Taking regular times of intentional rest can help us remember that Jesus has already done the work of saving us. Because Jesus died on the cross for us and rose from the grave, we don\u2019t ever need to strive to do enough or be enough. Rest is not something we earn\u2014Jesus gives us rest in Himself (Matthew 11:28-30). Consider taking some time to think about what you spend your time on, and ask God if there is anything He is inviting you to drop from your schedule, at least temporarily, to take the rest your body and soul need.\n\n\n\n\u201cBe still, and know that I am God!\u201d Psalm 46:10 (NLT)