Time to Rest and Recharge

It's done! The presents are opened, the carols have been sung and we are still sluggish from the dinner. I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas, but now what? Some people may still be doing the Christmas rush around the family, others may be dashing around getting themselves ready and organised for 2019. As for me these short few days before the new year are my chance to recharge my batteries and I think that you should join me.

Obviously, there are things that still have to be done, I'm not saying ignore everything and sleep all day every day till 2019; (even if I could use a three-day nap right around now...) I mean take time for what calms and relaxes you, the things that recharge your batteries. Now if you believe Pinterest (Follow me...) that consists of bath bombs, face masks and watching re-runs for friends; now while that does sound delightful it's not exactly a universal solution that's right for everyone. That's because the Lord made us all differently, so what some people may consider relaxing others may consider strenuous. As an example my sister loves being around people, talking to them, having dinner together that sort of thing; for me, that is so incredibly draining. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends; I love seeing them but talking, meeting, even sitting around other people takes so much energy out of me whereas being alone reading or making something really recharges me. That's why I'm not doing a "Five things you can do to relax after Christmas" list, I don't know each and every one of you and because I don't I wouldn't be able to make the list perfect for everyone. So instead I am going to share with you why it is important that we rest and let you work out for yourselves how you are going to do it.

Resting is something that we all need in our lives, especially after a big, draining event like Christmas. We cannot be expected to be productive and active twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, no human could do that our bodies weren't designed for it. Our bodies depend on sleep and rest to be able to function and personally I think it's amazing to see the difference that relaxing makes in terms of how we feel. Not only does relaxing improve your physical health, but it's also important for your mental health too. I personally have social anxiety so over Christmas as I see many friends and family members I always become very stressed. Taking the time to rest during and after the festive season allows me to lower my stress levels, refocus my mind and remember to cast my anxiety on God. The Lord designed our bodies and minds do so much for us, most of it without us even having to think about it; we can breathe, blink, keep our hearts pumping, digest food and form memories. On the subject of forming memories did you know that your body works to retain memories while you sleep? Sleeping and resting helps you in all kinds of ways; if your way of relaxing includes sitting (or laying) with your eyes closed, like me, you might notice that after you feel a little less stressed, a little more alert and in some cases a little more motivated. Rest is a good thing, to take time out for our bodies and our mind to recharge and prepare itself for the next day the next week.

There are many mentions of rest in the Bible. The very first reference is in Genesis, the very first book in the Bible. "And on the seventh day God finished His work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that he had done in creation." Genesis 2:2-3 ESV. Other mentions of rest in the Bible include Isaiah 28:12, Jeremiah 31:25 and 3. Matthew 11:28 NIV says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." One of the most important ways that you can rest and recharge is by reading your Bible and praying. Like I said before we all recharge in our own ways; some of you may say a prayer and then go for a jog listening to an audio Bible, some may listen to it as you go to sleep, maybe like me you enjoy reading your Bible while curled up in a duvet. The most important thing about it is not how you recharge it's that you recharge with God.

These few days between Christmas and new years eve have always been my couple of days to relax. Most of the time I still have things to do, still have family and friends to see, cleaning up to do, the washing still needs to be done and the preparations for new years celebrations still need to be finished; but I will not let those things get in the way of the relaxing that I need. Over the next couple of days I am going to be taking time out to recharge; recharge physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. I am going to let my body do what it needs to do to keep working for me as God designed it too. I am going to read/listen to my Bible, reflect on all I hear. I'll pray, thank the Lord for all he has done for me this year and all He will do for me in 2019; I will ask for his guidance, for him to watch over all of his people and to help them as he is helping me. I am also going to be praying for you; I am going to pray for you to feel God in your life in 2019. to see and feel him working in your life, that you will have the best year ever feeling rested and recharged throughout. So I hope that this has encouraged you to take some time to rest within the next few days and to continue to take some time out to recharge during 2019. See you in the New Year!