OUR DAILY BREAD : RUNNING AND REST

[cimi]

MONDAY MARCH 20


RUNNING AND REST

TODAY’S READING:
Mark 6:30-46
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[Jesus] said to
them, “Come with
me by yourselves
to a quiet place
and get some rest.”
Mark 6:31
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The headline caught my eye: “Rest Days Important for Runners.” In Tommy Manning’s article, the former member of the U.S. Mountain Running Team emphasized a principle that dedicated athletes sometimes ignore__the body needs time to rest and rebuild after exercise. “Physiologically, the adaptations that occur as a result of training only happen during rest,” Manning wrote. “This means rest is as important as workouts.”

The same is true in our walk of faith and service. Regular times of rest are essential to avoid burnout and discouragement. Jesus sought spiritual balance during His life on Earth, even in the face of great demands. When His disciples returned from a strenuous time of teaching and healing others, “He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’ “ (MARK 6:31). But a large crowd followed them, so Jesus taught them and fed them with only five loaves and two fish (vv.32-44). When everyone was gone, Jesus “went up on a mountainside to pray” (v.46).

If our lives are defined by work then what we do becomes less and less effective. Jesus invites us to regularly join Him in a quiet place to pray and get some rest.

__David McCasland
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Lord Jesus, thank You for Your example of prayer alone with Your Father.
Give us wisdom and determination to make rest a priority
as we follow You.

**In our llfe of faith and service, rest is as important as work.