| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Enjoy the journey by redeeming the time” Our Bible verse for today: “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers. Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.” 1 King 19:4-5 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Come apart and rest, or you might just come apart” Elijah was a mighty man of God who was often used by God in great ways. In 1 Kings 18:20-46 he confronted and defeated 450 prophets of Baal in a single spectacular contest on Mount Carmel. But then in 1 Kings 19:1 we find him running away in fear from the evil Queen Jezebel. And then in 19:4-5 he just gives-up entirely and tells God he wants to die. What happened to Elijah? How did he go so quickly from being a bold, confident, mighty man of God confronting and defeating an army of pagan priests, to this whimpering and somewhat pathetic man who was ready to quit? Simple, he was spent. He was wiped-out. His emotional gas tank was empty. He was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. He needed time to rest and renew. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to take a nap. Such was the case with Elijah in this scene. The old adage that you need to come apart and rest – or you might just come apart, is very true and it applies to all of us. Many of us push too hard for too long. We make excuses for not taking a break. We think about all the work that has to be done, all the chores that must be completed, all the people who depend on us … But the fact is that if you don’t take a break, sooner or later you will end up like Elijah, out of gas and giving-up. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else, you won’t be able to continue taking care of the people and the situations that need your care and attention. You have to come apart and rest – or eventually you will simply come apart. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to take a nap (or a vacation). God bless, Pastor Jim |
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