Key Text: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28
Key Message: Sacred rest isn’t pause from purpose—it’s preparation for promise.
In our non-stop world, rest often feels like a luxury we can’t afford. Yet the Hebrew word for rest, “menucha,” suggests something far richer than mere inactivity—it speaks of tranquil abundance, a deliberate pause that produces peace. This holiday season offers us this sacred invitation.
Think about it: Even God, who never grows weary, chose to rest on the seventh day—not from exhaustion, but to establish a pattern of sacred rhythm. Jesus often withdrew to quiet places despite pressing needs around Him. Your rest isn’t an interruption of ministry; it’s an essential part of it.
As we pause our daily POWER WORD devotionals until January 6, 2025, remember that seasons of rest are actually seasons of preparation. Like fields lying fallow, gathering nutrients for future harvest, this time of rest is gathering strength for what’s ahead.
Today’s Truth: Rest isn’t the absence of activity—it’s the presence of purpose in our pause. This holiday season is your opportunity for holy recalibration.
Power Points: • Rest is a spiritual discipline • Pausing produces perspective • Holiday breaks become holy breaks • Rest restores and realigns
Prayer Focus: Lord, teach us to rest in Your presence. Help us use this season not just for physical rest, but for spiritual renewal and family connection.
Daily Power-Up Challenge:
- Schedule specific times for complete rest
- Create boundaries around work/ministry during holidays
- Plan meaningful moments with loved ones
- Use this break for spiritual reflection and renewal
Remember: Rest isn’t a reward for finishing—it’s preparation for beginning again. We’ll resume our daily POWER WORDS on Monday, January 6, 2025. Until then, rest well, celebrate intentionally, and prepare for a powerful new year.