This time of year is beautiful at Western Meadows.  We sit in the middle of a thirty acre hay field.  Right before the first cutting, when a gentle breeze blows through the heads of grass, it is absolutely awesome.  God lets us rest in the meadows.  He isn’t a harsh boss, sitting with a stick ready to whack us when we get out of line.  No, He is our Heavenly Father who wants to lavish us with His love. Too wonderful for words is our God.  He is generous with his children and one of His gifts is rest.

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REST!  Real Rest.  Remember as a child your mother would make you lie down and take a nap.  If you refused to sleep, at least you had to rest.  And how we hated it.  But now, wouldn’t you love to take a nap?  But you probably have too many things to do and not enough time to do them. 

The border collie is a working dog and so devoted to her master that she will work herself to death to please him.  At times the owner of the border collie must tie her up to keep her from doing too much. 

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For many of us, we are probably like the border collie.  We work so hard and don’t know when to quit.  We just keep doing, doing, doing.  The people around us have so many needs and we just keep working to help them.  Many of you, even now, may be suffering from burn out.  

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This chaotic world we live in encourages go, and go, and do more, and do more.  Sometimes we are manipulated by guilt to work unceasingly.  Sometimes in just trying to please people we will overwork ourselves.  God doesn’t burden us down with endless work and striving.  God does expect us to work hard.   He expects us to persevere.  But in Psalm 127:2  we are told: “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.“

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Now I can rest again, for the Lord has been so good to me. 
Psalm 116:7

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Our loving heavenly Father wants you and me and every other rodeo wife to take time to rest.  Real rest in Christ.  Let His thoughts fill your heart and mind.  Focus on heavenly things.  To really rest we must be at peace, we must be free from anxiety.  Jesus tells us that in this world we will have trouble but if we know Him we will have peace. (John 16:33)  If we love the Bible we will have great peace. (Psalm 119:165)  Peace comes when we are controlled by the Spirit of God. (Romans 8:6)  God gives peace and keeps us in perfect peace.  (John 14:27, Isaiah 26:3)

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For any of you work-a-holic border collies please take time to rest in the meadow grass.  Don’t be stubborn and think you can’t or you don’t need it. 

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You need to rest— God says so. 

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Take time to enjoy the world God has placed around you.  Thank God for friends, family, and fun.  Look out in the pasture and laugh at the baby calves playing. Sit on the grass and play with puppies;  take your kids on a picnic.  Relax a little.

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Try it;  you will be amazed at how refreshed you will feel.  You will be amazed at how much more you can get done when you give God time in your life.  When we rest in Him, he will order your day, and He will show you what is necessary to do and what can be left out.   God loves each of you so much and He wants your life to be one of joy, love, peace, and rest.     

 

"The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace."
Psalm 29:11​