"Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31

For many people the sense of work is overwhelming. The term “workaholic” identifies them as victims of the earnest desire to work constantly. For some it is an intense drive to get ahead, to climb the ladder to success. Occasionally some use work to keep from facing other concerns in life such as family responsibilities or spiritual obligations. Others are seemingly driven by a sense of duty towards work that makes them feel guilty when they take time off.

It is not a sin to take a vacation or to relax. The heavenly Father designated a time for quitting our labor. Christ called His disciples to rest and thereby be “re-created.”

Sometimes in the home the work that never ends takes its toll. Mothers who have a deep sense of dedication to their calling can be trapped in the constant pressure of caring for families. They are fatigued and yet also have guilt feelings, because many also have jobs outside the home. A wise and considerate family needs to take frequent stock of its goals, its division of duties, its periods of recreation. To rest and to worship are God’s design for our well-being.

PRAYER: Restore me, Lord, through rest and prayer; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

(Devotions from “The Abundant Life” copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 12-14    John 8:28-59

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