To prevent the frustration of falling behind, which most of us tend to do when following a Bible reading plan, each month of this plan gives you only twenty-five readings. Today we start a few “free days” . We encourage you to catch up on any readings you may have missed this month.
If you have finished the month’s readings, you can use these final days of the month to study the passages that challenged or intrigued you.
Daily Devotion
Exhaustion
All of us experience exhaustion at one time or another.
New parents adjusting to a newborn baby in the home. Mandatory overtime at work. Sickness causing us to get behind on school work and we have to cram for the next big test. A friend is in town so we stay up extra late. The reasons are varied but end up with the same result…our days are filled with yawns and no amount of sleep seems to be enough.
Interestingly enough, this common occurrence is talked about in the Bible. We aren’t alone. Let’s learn from the experiences of others and be on guard for those times we are running on little sleep.
- Genesis 25:29 NLT “One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry.”
- Esau was exhausted and that caused him to give up the birthright, allowing his physical needs to override the spiritual blessing rightfully belonging to him.
- Deuteronomy 25:18 NLT “They attacked you when you were exhausted and weary, and they struck down those who were straggling behind. They had no fear of God.”
- Attacks come to the weary and exhausted. Be on guard. Ask others to cover you in prayer when you find yourself in this predicament.
- Judges 8:4 NLT “Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, they continued to chase the enemy.”
- Even if you are exhausted you CAN override this and pursue your enemy. The Lord is your strength…PUSH through the exhaustion.
- 1 Samuel 30:10 NLT “But 200 of the men were too exhausted to cross the brook, so David continued the pursuit with 400 men.”
- Don’t be left behind because you are exhausted. Be aware and surround yourself with those that will encourage you to keep pursuing even though you are tired.
- Psalm 38:8 NLT “I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart.” Psalm 69:3 NLT “I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.”
- David experienced exhaustion…what did he do? He PRAYED! He asked the Lord for help. He confessed how he was feeling. He waited for God to help him instead of taking matters into his own hands.
- Lamentations 5:5 NLT “Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are exhausted but are given no rest.”
- Exhaustion doesn’t bring rest.
- Luke 22:45 NLT “At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.”
- Grief is exhausting.
So, how do we combat exhaustion? I found this great acronym on proverbs31.org website.
R.E.S.T.
- R: Recite God’s goodness. The next time we find ourselves hustling, let’s pause to praise God for who He is and what He’s already doing (see Psalm 103:1-2). What can we thank Him for? Let’s start there.
- E: Express your neediness. Then we get honest with God about our struggles and sins, casting our burdens on Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)
- S: Seek His stillness. Next, we take time to “be still, and know” that He is God (Psalm 46:10a, ESV). We quiet our hearts to listen to His still, small voice. Is there anything He wants to say to us? Are there any burdens or to-dos He’s asking us to lay down?
- T: Trust His faithfulness. Finally, we declare our confidence that our good God, who began a good work in us, will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
Take time today to cast your exhaustion upon the Lord. Allow Him to give you strength when you are running on empty. Look for ways you can go to bed a little earlier tonight and catch up on some much needed REST.
~Sarah Seagraves