I’m thankful for weekends.  I have a great job that I enjoy and get incredible satisfaction from doing, but there’s something to be said for a little ‘downtime’.  The weekend may bring time with family, time with friends, or time with the washer and dryer. It could be filled with errands or filled with chores at home.  But there’s a particular part of the weekend I always look forward to: the time of rest.  Weekdays have meetings, deadlines, and demands, but the weekend-that’s the time to breathe.  On the weekend I’m hooked up to a battery charger; the downtime gives me the energy to start another week.  I’m grateful for time off and a little rest.

However, we don’t need a weekend to get a break from the stress of life.  We have a place to rest everyday.  Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and my burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 28-30)  God will willingly take your burdens, and He knows exactly what you need.  From Psalm 23:2-3, “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul…”  Restores my soul… picture a gentle stream flowing through a lush forest; then just breathe.  “But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.” (1 Kings 5:4) Remember this, it doesn’t matter what day is on your calendar,  because God’s calendar says today you can rest.