Rest. Serve. Repeat.

I'm continually learning what life with and in Jesus looks like. I believe that each season and chapter may be different, but that there are some fundamental aspects that don't change. One is the need to rest.

I'm reading a book title Grace Walk, by Steve McVey. Through this, I am learning that 1. I must be broken and brought to the end of myself in order to live fully in the freedom and grace of Christ, and 2. I must live a balance of rest and service.

Luke 10:38-42 says: As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

McVey notes that Martha was distracted from Jesus by serving Jesus. He comments on this revelation in his own life, "It was a startling revelation in my own life when the Holy Spirit showed me that I had become more preoccupied with the work of ministry than with the One who called me to it. Busyness in serving Christ can block intimacy with Him."

I see this in my own life. I love pouring into women, speaking truth over the body, and serving others in the manus forms of service. It is difficult for me to withdraw from the crowds of people and seek Jesus, who has called me to this ministry. There are times where I'm like Mary, resting in The Lord's presence. And there are times that I'm like Martha, too busy serving The Lord to bask in His glory.

Rest and service are necessary to build the Kingdom. Both are needed to fully experience God. Jesus rested and served. Looking at my own life, I see that my service to the body is much fruitful when I first spend a substantial amount of time resting in The Lord. (By a substantial amount of time, I mean at least an hour, often times more.) Time spent with God leads to an overflowing of the Spirit inside me, which leads to me serving in the name of Jesus. Sometimes this service is intentional, sometimes it's something that just happens. Either way, it's the combination of resting and serving that builds a more it image relationship with Jesus for both myself (rest) and for others (serve).

There must be a balance of resting and serving. If I only rested, I may have an intimate relationship with The Lord, but others wouldn't be served. If I only served others, they may be encouraged to seek intimacy with Jesus, but my relationship with Him would be lacking. I must rest and serve each and every day. I must spend quality time with my Savior and then serve Him by serving others in the ministry He has placed me in.