RESET (it’s okay to take a break and rest)

As women in the Kingdom, we are often always the only individuals that will step up and do God’s work, which means we are always being a blessing to someone. As a child being raised by DR. C, my life was non-stop. There was rarely a free weekend in Anthony’s household. My mom taught us at an early age, blessing others is how you get blessed by God. That meant doing whatever was needed to bless others. There was always a church program, a youth program, a feeding program, whatever program you can think of to help others, I’ve been in it or to it.

When you think about the word reset, what comes to mind? When I think reset, I think restart. What those words have in common is the prefix RE. The prefix Re means, again, backward, starting over, and/or withdrawal. Growing up I was told by my family that not wanting to do something was being lazy. I was not being lazy; I was just so tired from being on the go working with my mom. When I was asking God what I needed to let the G.I.R.L.S know, he gave it to me right on the toilet. (LOL) I was looking at the socket on the wall, and God said there you go. I was like God what is it, then I saw my Alexa speaker flash red. Normally when it flashes red, something is wrong, and it needs to be reset. I went over and unplugged it, and the light shut off. I plugged it back into the socket, and the light flashed blue. I was like, “GOD, I GOT YOU!”

Some of us are like the socket, always giving power to others. When you look at a socket, you will see that it has a reset button on it. Not too often do we have to press reset on the socket, but eventually that time will come. Sometimes we have so many extension cords connected to us that we get overworked. When an extension cord has too many things plugged into it for too long, most of the time it overheats. Think about when you use a blow dryer, when it is used too long it shuts off. You must press the reset button and run it on cool for a second. We are like the blow dryer, we have a reset button (REST), and a cooling button (Self care). Often as women we don’t get to have self-care because the people who are getting power from us make us feel guilty about resting. God has sent me to REMIND you that RESTING IS NEEDED!

Let’s go to the scripture and see what God’s perception is on rest.

GENESIS 2: 2

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

God spent a week creating a beautiful thing. He created things we can see, things we can’t see, and things we can only imagine. On the 7th day God rested. God got tired and spent an ENTIRE day resting. He could have kept going on and on, but he was giving us an example that it’s important to rest. That should be our sign that IT'S OKAY TO REST. God is looking at your work, and he appreciates it. Even though we feel like when we help others God is pleased, so we must keep going to please him more. He is pleased with your heart. If your heart is in the right place, and you do what you’re able to do and not beyond what you’re able to do, HE IS PLEASED.

MATTHEW 11: 28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

When we are in this line of work for God, we must remember all people are not of God. They have allowed the devil to use them, and they will suck you dry because they know you will do whatever you can and beyond. I had a situation where I was helping someone all I could because I was trying to be a good example of a Christian. They sucked me so dry till the point, I didn’t even have anything else for them to suck. I was so drained that I went to God and said, “God what do I do?” God told me plain as day, “I told you to stop a long time ago, you decided to ignore me for self.” I was so hurt because when I sat down and thought back, Go was right. I got lost in helping them so much to the point it was doing it for my satisfaction, and not to please God anymore. I needed to reset and think about the entire purpose of helping them. I was supposed to be doing it for God not me.

It’s important to rest because many things happen during sleep. Many biological processes happen during sleep: The brain stores new information and gets rid of toxic waste. Nerve cells communicate and reorganize, which supports healthy brain function. The body repairs cells, restores energy, and releases molecules like hormones and proteins. When people get sick, they become bedridden. There is only time for you to rest, because resting allows you to restore yourself. The moral of it all is that IT'S OKAY TO REST AND RESET!

Prayer: Heavenly Father,

In the hustle and bustle of life, amidst our daily responsibilities and duties, we come to You seeking rest and renewal. You, who crafted the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh, understand the importance of rest. Grant us, dear Lord, the wisdom to prioritize rest in our lives.

In moments of weariness, when our souls feel burdened and our bodies exhausted, remind us of Your promise to provide rest for the weary. Teach us to lean on You, to find solace in Your presence, and to allow Your peace to permeate our hearts.

As Christian women, we often carry the weight of many roles and expectations. Help us to release the pressures we place upon ourselves and to embrace the rest You offer. May we find sanctuary in Your arms, knowing that You are our refuge and strength.

In the quiet moments of rest, may we hear Your gentle whisper guiding us, rejuvenating us, and restoring us. Grant us the grace to surrender our worries and anxieties to You, trusting that You hold our lives in Your capable hands.

As we rest, Lord, reset our minds, bodies, and spirits. Fill us anew with Your Holy Spirit, that we may rise with renewed strength and purpose to serve You and others. May our rest in You be a testimony to Your goodness and grace.

In Jesus' name, we pray,

Amen.