Would you like to be given time as a gift, friend?

For several years now, I've had the privilege of working with a strong team on a mission the Lord gave us. Among other things, we worked together to open a facility for women with eating disorders. When the two chairmen retired, our team thought long and hard about what to give them as a present. A celebratory meal is soon gone, a framed picture wouldn't express the gratitude in our hearts…But then a very special idea came up: "Let's give them the gift of time—our time."

Every single one of us had a full and busy life. We knew it would be a sacrifice to give up a day of work and make an outing happen, but we did it! It was a lovely day as we gathered at beautiful Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, but it wasn't until noon when we were on a boat that I personally managed to finally let go and just "be." At that moment, friend, I realized that this time I'd wanted to give my teammates as a gift had also been a gift to myself.

"'...You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work…For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day He rested…'" (Exodus 20:8-11, NLT). 

We've talked a lot about this passage this week. As we wrap up our series on rest, I'd like to conclude by saying this: if something is good for God, friend, you can assume it will be good for you, too! Since God lacks nothing (despite the fact that He didn't work for one whole day), you can be sure you won't lack anything either if you do the same. :-)

This one day a week is an amazing opportunity to give God the gift of your time. Of all the things we could give Him, don't you think that this gift would be a deeply meaningful one?

You may be really pressing yourself to keep this day of rest at first—until you realize that this beautiful gift of time to the Lord is also a gift to yourself! :-)

You are a miracle!