Thursdays Tips: Rest

It's a potentially restful week. This time between Christmas and New Year’s isn’t jam packed with busy to-dos, at least generally. Some people find it a great time to write. Others take the time off to spend with family. What do you do?

Rest is necessary for coming up with new stories, fresh prose. Rest precedes inspiration a lot of times. Have you noticed that? And spiritual rest the same. I think that may be one of the reasons God commanded a Sabbath. He knew how badly we would need refreshing. For writers, He knew our creativity would need refreshing and that happens best with rest.

Do you have a hard time giving yourself permission to rest? I do sometimes. There is always a long to-do list and not just here in my office. ;) But giving ourselves a rest, obeying this command, is key to thriving.

Lately I’ve noticed eye strain. I thought I might need glasses so I bought readers. But though I can read through them, they make me pretty dizzy. So, I went to the eye doctor. He said I don’t need readers. My eyes are just strained after spending multiple hours at the computer and/or reading. Hmm… what’s to be done for that? Reading is a central element of my work (from writing to editing, how would I do that without reading?). So, what can be done? In a word: Rest.

I encourage you to rest at some point this holiday season. Take advantage of the less hurried pace. Relax and truly let yourself be refreshed. Spend extra time in prayer. It’s a great time of year to review the blessings and lessons of the previous year and receive guidance for the upcoming year. I asked Him, and God gave me a specific verse for 2012 for my own journey. He also gave me a word—a sort of focus word for the year ahead. He’ll do the same for you.

Walk away from your computer, grab up your journal and your Bible, and seek God. Let Him refresh your body and mind.

Then, with rejuvenated creativity you can tackle the writing God has called you to do in the New Year. All His best in 2012!