In a productivity obsessed world, we can often lose sight of the things that matter the most. Here’s Jude, a Licensed Lay Minister at St George & St Paul, with our latest blog post, on the importance of rest and maintaining your relationship with God.
Recently, I was really fortunate to be able to share in a Renew, Refresh Resource weekend at Lee Abbey with some of my lovely home group (small group). It’s a course that runs most months on a Friday to Sunday where you join with the community in their services and prayers with a small amount of teaching.
The theme was based around 1Kings 19:1-18, thinking about what happens when we come to the end of our own resources, when we are critical of ourselves, when great highs become great lows and we try to work on just in our own strength.
Elijah in this passage had come to the end of his tether. He complains to God about all he has done. He feels unsuccessful, abandoned and afraid of his enemies.
God says it’s ok, come rest and sends his angel with bread and water. The angel comes a second time and persuades Elijah to eat saying: “the journey is too much for you.”
How often do we work on, without looking after ourselves and become so fixed on where we are going, we forget to keep our relationship with God and ask him to guide us.
Elijah finds out that God has a plan for him, a plan that will be far better than Elijah could have imagined.
By the end of the weekend, I felt refreshed and determined yet again to rest more and let God be the driving force. To let go of some of my ingrained Northern work ethic!
In the coming months, as we begin to focus on our church building needs, our home group decided to prayer walk in our buildings on Mondays…more of that later.
Meanwhile if you have a chance to consider Lee Abbey for a short break, it’s well worth it! God is at work in that beautiful place.
Blessings,
Jude
Licensed Lay Minister
Photo: Judith Taylor (taken at Lee Abbey, Devon, England)