Much Needed Rest

Since I began seminary I have not taken a break from classes. That has been three years. I have one book left that I need to do a report on from a summer class and the dean was willing to give me an extension so I can take the month of August off. Also, my lack of sleep has led to discovering the need for medical equipment to help me sleep and I am looking forward to getting that so I can actually rest at night. I have only been able to get about 2-5 hours of sleep every night for a very long time, and I never feel rested.

Lack of sleep can lead to poor studies, and hours of studies for a few years can lead to burnout. They tend to feed off each other and spiral one downward further and further. Even Jesus Himself retreated...in order to pray. He didn't go to the wilderness to seek pleasures and 'go to the beach,' His retreat was in order to pray, (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15-16, 6:12 to name a few).

Where does true rest come from? We know the answer but rarely practice it well. Christ Himself is our peace and our rest. Matt. 11:28 says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The Scripture also says we also enter into God's rest through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Heb. 4:9-10). We live what we believe. Read that again. Paul Washer has said that George Muller's autobiography is one of his most influential books aside from Scripture, and I can see that upon reading it. The emphasis on prayer and God dependence in that man's life brings great conviction to retreating with God for all our needs. E.M. Bounds book "On Prayer" is always a classic to encourage a better prayer life. Why is it hard to pray, though? I have asked myself that question and the answer seems pretty clear knowing sin nature: the lack of felt need.

Living in rich, prosperous America is mostly seen as a blessing but I am tending more and more toward the opposite being true when it comes to our walk with Christ. I am in Isaiah right now and themes that keep coming back to me are 1) God hates pride, and 2) pride and prosperity make sin natures not feel a need to seek God. Even when He smiteth them, they do not seek Him (Isa. 9:13). God brought destruction to Israel numerous times and numerous times they did not turn to Him and kept looking to earthly things. "We will build bigger and better," (Isa. 9:8-12). Many examples could be given.

I point this out because many are not at rest and do not feel a need to pray. These feed off each other. Pride is what leads one to think there is no need to pray since we have all the resources we need. Pride thinks that we have it all together since we have all the resources we need. But people would pray if Lake Murray was down to 3 feet of water. People would pray if grocery store shelves were empty. People would pray if we didn't have fuel for our cars. The pride it takes to have a high chin because these things are in place and we feel we don't need God is astounding. Prosperous nations lead to idolatry, and idolatrous hearts do not seek God.

Second Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." That is a big 'if' there... The problem is when idolatrous hearts read this they immediately think in terms of manipulating God to bring them back to prosperity, as though that is the end goal. This completely misses the point. God is a jealous God, and He desires for us to desire Himself. He is our God and there shall be no more gods (idols) before Him. So, why do we pray? Because we realize we need Him and we should want only Him. Our hearts should be growing more and more toward that direction. The Holy Spirit should be bringing us back to this if we are truly a child of God. It doesn't mean we become monks, Martin Luther, don't miss the point...

In this day and age we have it very easy in America. One can learn this by taking one trip to Burundi, Bolivia, or Burma. We have all the resources we need and we can tend to complicate our lives with idols because they are fun and we can afford them. The time that is wasted on those things and could be directed more toward prayer and studying the Scripture is eye-opening when you step back and see it all for what it is.

Things I am focusing on this August...

John MacArthur was once asked about his self-discipline to studying. I am paraphrasing, but he said it was not discipline to him because he has established habits from early on in his ministry. He set aside 28-30 hours per week for sermon prep/prayer and he was merely on autopilot. He also said he has never owned a laptop and has hand written his notes/sermons. This August I am using this time to establish better habits to create a better foundation that is more efficient and effective for school as well as ministry. I am weeding myself away from Logos and using books instead to research Greek texts. I am writing out the Greek in a notebook and figuring out the voice/tense/mood of each word and testing it against Logos if I feel uncertain. I have already noticed a difference form such habits.

I am also being more conscientious toward prayer time and studying the Scriptures, and not being tempted by my phone. Prayer brings the phone's level of excitement down to hell's feet. God is supreme to all things visible and invisible. To really think that the God of the universe came down to save a wretch like me should be enough to get any child of His to be thankful and prayerful. In Him we can have our rest. Keep marching, soldier.