rest | Thoughts About God

Christianity and Labor

Thoughts_About_God — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 07:03:50 +0000

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

We do it the first Monday in every September. We pause to celebrate labor. For many, Labor Day is a three-day weekend that helps us celebrate the conclusion of a great summer with a party and some tasty grilled food. But what is Labor Day, really?

There’s so much more to Labor Day than the weekend getaways and the funny (but relatable) Labor Day memes we see online. In fact, as its name implies, the holiday has historical roots in the labor movement.

In addition, work is not God’s way of punishing us. In fact, He blesses us with the ability to work, so that we can honor Him. Colossians 3:22 says, “You who are servants who are owned by someone, obey your owners. Work hard for them all the time, not just when they are watching you.”

Whether you are a student, employee or both, it is important to look at our work from a Christian perspective. After all, we spend a lot of time at school and in the workplace.

Everyone has a different attitude when it comes to work. Some have the tendency to overwork themselves, while others avoid it at all costs. However, having either of these attitudes can lead to negative consequences.

So, what does the Bible have to say about work? As Christians, it is important to align our perspective with God’s when it comes to this topic. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (24) since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

Paul was a tent maker. In the New Testament – Jesus made…

132 public appearances – 122 were in the marketplace
52 parables that Jesus told – 45 had a workplace context
Of 40 miracles in the Book of Acts – 39 were in the marketplace
Work, in its different forms, is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible – more than all the words used to express worship, music, praise and singing combined.

Don’t minimize your daily work – it is nothing less than a Holy calling. God has you right where He wants you… Right now!

When we go all the way back to Genesis, we can see that God worked when He created the world. Therefore, when we work, we resemble Him.

Colossians 3:22 says, “You who are servants who are owned by someone, obey your owners. Work hard for them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Work for them as you would for the Lord because you honor God.” When we obey the authority figures in our life, we are ultimately serving Christ.

As sons and daughters of God, we have all been given different talents and abilities. When we use our gifts, we can experience fulfillment as we serve Christ and share His love with others.

The Bible reminds us of the importance of rest. When God created the world, He worked for six days and rested on the seventh. When we give ourselves time to rest and be in God’s Word, we can recharge for what is to come. By resting, we ensure that we will be prepared to serve Christ in whatever comes our way.

This Labor Day weekend, take this time to rest. Reflect on what the Bible says about work and ask God to give you the discipline to apply these principles to your life. Ultimately, by doing this, we can glorify Him!

by John Grant
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Why do You want to be Successful? Business leader Peter Chung, a Christian business man, shares about his experience.

Getting Life Back on Track by Marvin Kehler

Redefining Success – Successful business owner Dr. Ed Becker describes how is definition of success changed.

Setting up a Proper Foundation in Your Life for a Successful Business and Personal Life – Dr. Ed Becker

Unexpected Opportunity Herb Buller talks about how having cancer in his eyes turned into positive opportunities.

Being Honest and Ethical in Business – Herb Buller talks about Seizing Opportunities and Becoming a Work of Art

What does Success look like for You? Entrepreneur John Roise

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The Position of Hope

Devotionals — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:03:53 +0000

Listen to Psalm 62:1.

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.“

Listen to the NKJV translation.

“Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved” (Psalm 62:1-2).

God of hope is the essence of your Father. It is who He is, and you are in Him (Romans 15:13).

Be blessed with rest in the God of hope alone when your expectation is delayed. You are in the waiting room of the God of hope, anticipating and expecting as you are learning the meaning of hope. The Hebrew words for hope and wait come from the same root word. The Hebrew words translated hope mean “confidence, twisting in labor pains, waiting, expectation, patience, trust, enduring, expectancy, something longed for.”

Some of these meanings of hope are not for the faint of heart. Be blessed with faithfulness in the face of circumstances that look nothing like hopeful. Take refuge in Him and take new courage. Be blessed as you connect with your Father in hope in a special and deep way. Be blessed with unshakable hope in Him, when everything else is shaken. Stand firmly on the solid rock of God’s faithfulness and timing.

Be blessed with rest and quietness deep in your being that come from Jesus in you. Receive secure hope in Christ Jesus in you, the life of God flowing to you, your hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). He is all. Be steadfast in abundant hope by his presence in you filling up what is lacking that you can’t humanly think, do, or feel.

Listen to the confident position of intimacy and hope the psalmist expressed in Psalm 84, and take your position in God there.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah
9 Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you

Be blessed with knowing God intends you to pass through every valley of trouble with His wisdom and grace and hope. Be blessed as the God of hope makes a door of hope in your Valley of Trouble (Hosea 2:15).

Be blessed as the One who is your hope turns your trouble into springs of hope (Psalm 84:6).

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission
From: You Are Blessed In The Names Of God

Take Rest Oh My Weary Soul

Devotionals — Sat, 16 May 2026 07:03:24 +0000

“When my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. “ Psalm 61:2 NKJV

It gets so hard at times balancing every aspect of life; marriage, family, ministry, and career. Where do I find the time for me? Where do I find the time to commune with my Heavenly Daddy? So much comes into play on any given day. Sometimes I feel as though I am sinking, I am drowning in it all. Then I hear Your still small voice saying, “rest in me.”

I hear you calling me back to a place of stillness, a place of much needed peace. I hear you calling me to breathe and allow You to replenish me. I long for that time in Your presence, Lord. I long to be near You. You calm the raging emotions inside of me. Just as Jesus spoke peace to the wind and the waves in the Gospels, You still my overwhelmed heart. It is in Your presence I find fullness of joy and at Your right hand, pleasures forever more.

It is in the stillness that I find peace; I find continual hope. It is in the stillness that I find rest for my weary soul. Take delight oh my weary soul. Take delight in the presence of Abba Father. Take delight in His loving arms. If you find yourself in a similar place today, I challenge you to find rest in the Presence of Almighty God. It is in His Presence that we find renewed strength, peace, and hope.

Father, we long for Your unfailing love in our everyday lives. When we are running on empty, emotions are high, and life is overwhelming, lead us to the Rock that is higher than us. Lead us to that place of refuge and peace that we so long for. It is in You that we find rest. It is in You that we find hope. It is in You that we find peace.

When life seems to overwhelm you, take out a pen and pad and journal your thoughts.

Write a love letter to God telling Him how much you need His presence in Your life.

Grace and peace,

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Being Close to Christ

Thoughts_About_God — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:06:56 +0000

My grandson was visiting. He was not his normal happy self. He was very sad and upset about something. He could not put it into words. We were just about to sit down for lunch. He asked, “Papa can I sit in your chair?” I always sit at the head of the table. I moved and gave him my chair and spot at the table. Something about it seemed to comfort him and reassure him. The tears passed. Funny thing, he has never asked again.

Jesus offers a place of comfort and rest. His invitation…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30

Being close to Christ is the place of comfort and reassurance!

by Mike Woodard
used by permission

In Her Brokenness

Devotionals — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:01:48 +0000

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

Author Carol Kent lived by her Daily Scheduler! You might say she was “just a bit driven!” classic workaholic. In fact, her sense of accomplishment came only when she checked off the things on her ever-present “to-do” list!

But she tells of the day when a major crisis in her life left her totally heartbroken. And there was nothing on her “list” that could fix it! She says,

“I discovered when you’re at the bottom emotionally and spiritually and all your resources have been used up, Jesus is enough!”

Now Carol calls herself a “recovering workaholic.” She deeply feels the pain of others, weeps with those in despair… understands their hurt and their brokenness.

My dear friend, someone in your life needs you. Today, put reaching out to that one friend right at the top of your “to do” list. Show her Jesus!

By Vonette Bright
used by permissions

Invited to Rest

Devotionals — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 09:03:41 +0000

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

My life, (particularly over the Christmas season), often feels scattered, frenzied, and harried.

If that sounds like your life too, take a moment to ponder these words of Jesus, found in Matthew’s gospel.

Jesus invites us to rest.

His invitation draws us. We are so tired. Yet at the same time, we resist this rest. There is so much to do. Our society says rest comes simply with inactivity. So, we put up our feet and watch a movie. We take a luxury vacation to escape the real world for a while. Or, when overwhelmed, we do nothing and allow external forces to push us from one situation to the next. Yet none of these things brings us real rest.

The rest Jesus offers requires action. He instructs us:

Take My yoke upon you.
Learn from Me.

Jesus tells us to bind ourselves to Him. Like the ancient wooden frame that joined two oxen, Jesus asks us to make His way the framework for our lives. Following God’s commands provides the direction we need and frees us from the bondage of sin. Instead of frantically seeking approval from people, we rest in the knowledge that God loves and accepts us. Worry and fear fade away as we trust God to provide and release control to Him.

Jesus also calls us to learn from Him.

His gentle care for us teaches us patience and mercy. His humility and selflessness show us how to unselfishly serve others. Real rest comes when we put our lives in God’s hands and learn from Jesus.

God, I’m floundering. Life is pulling me in too many directions. I want to follow your ways and find real rest. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

Real Rest

Devotionals — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 08:01:36 +0000

“Find rest Oh my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5

Are you like me, always trying to engineer the world, especially as it pertains to me? I worry and fret over things that may not even happen and magnify the significance of those that do.

Sometimes I have to sit back and scold myself for all the time and energy I waste worrying about such things. God is in control of both the major and minor events of my life.

He says, “Rest in Me, My child. Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen. Pray continually, asking My Spirit to take charge of the details of this day. Remember that you are on a journey with Me. When you try to peer into the future and plan every possibility, you ignore your constant Companion who sustains you moment by moment. As you gaze anxiously into the distance, you don’t even feel the strong grip of My hand holding yours.”

How foolish we are when we try to get in His way and take over the running of our lives.

Remembrance of Him is a daily discipline and we should never lose sight of His constant and continual presence with us. We should rest in Him all day, every day.

As His love streams through us, it washes away fear and distrust. He should be in our thoughts as we consider strategies to deal any situation.

God gave us His Holy Spirit as a constant companion and councilor. He is always there and never leaves and is just a prayer away at all times and in all things. Because of that, we never have to face any situation alone. His presence is all around us. Don’t worry about messing things up. He is in control and He is more concerned with our persistence than our perfection.

Why worry when you can pray?

By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

Are you ready to ask the Holy Spirit to direct your life? Why not pray this simple prayer right now and by faith invite God to fill you with His Spirit:

Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, bow in prayer and trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now.

If you don’t see our comment form you can find it here: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/blog/john-grant_real-rest/

God Will Lighten Your Load

Devotionals — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 08:01:17 +0000

If we let him, God will lighten our loads. Why don’t you try travelling light? Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Try it! Try it for the sake of those you love. How do you embrace someone if your arms are full of bags? For the sake of those you love, learn to set them down.

And for the sake of the God you serve, do the same. God has a great race for you to run. But you have to drop some stuff. How can you share grace if you’re full of guilt? How can you offer comfort if you’re disheartened? God is saying, “Set it down, child. I’ll carry that one.” What do you say we take God up on his wonderful offer? We just might find ourselves travelling a little lighter.

By Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: Travelling Light

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about/

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Rest in the Shadow

Devotionals — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 08:03:25 +0000

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

Thought

At the end of summer’s scorching heat, where did you find your shadow of protection and refreshment? When we place our lives in the care of God Most High, we find that his shadow of protection and refreshment covers us. Even in times of difficulty, we know that he has protected us from the worst of Satan’s withering attack and that his presence offers us strength that we may not often see but always can trust.

Prayer

Give me eyes to see, O LORD, and a heart to believe that you are there when I cannot see any evidence of your presence. Please be my protection in times of attack and my refreshment in times that bring soul-withering despair. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission
You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on https://www.verseoftheday.com.

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Who Can I Trust?

Thoughts_About_God — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:03:09 +0000

“My soul finds rest in God alone. He alone is my rock.”
Psalm 62:1

Fidelity. Security. Trust. It’s no surprise that many institutions through which we invest millions of dollars have names signifying certainty or confidence. Why would we allow our valuable assets be handled by entities with less principled titles?

How easy it is to slip into believing that our ultimate faith should be placed in bank accounts, stock portfolios or other works of human hands. The Crash of the 1920’s may slide noiselessly into history, but we need only reflect on the recent past to discover how quickly the economy betrays our trust.

Wise King David discovered, (often with wavering faith), that his ultimate trust could be placed in God alone. Whether experiencing betrayal from those he thought loyal or outright opposition from an enemy, David could finally say, “My soul finds rest in God alone.He is my fortress and I will never be shaken.”

Father, it’s so easy to fall into the habit of placing total trust in myself or other equally fallible humans. Help me look daily to you as my ultimate confidence. I do believe; help my unbelief. In Jesus name, amen.

by Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

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rest | Thoughts About God

Christianity and Labor

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

The Position of Hope

God of hope is the essence of your Father. It is who He is, and you are in Him (Romans 15:13).

FURTHER READING

Take Rest Oh My Weary Soul

“When my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. “ Psalm 61:2 NKJV

Further Reading

Being Close to Christ

In Her Brokenness

Invited to Rest

My life, (particularly over the Christmas season), often feels scattered, frenzied, and harried.

Jesus invites us to rest.

The rest Jesus offers requires action. He instructs us:

Jesus also calls us to learn from Him.

Further Reading

Real Rest

“Find rest Oh my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5

Why worry when you can pray?

Further Reading

God Will Lighten Your Load

Rest in the Shadow

Who Can I Trust?