Days of Refreshing #1

Today we begin a series of devotionals on being refreshed.  I know it's something I need to think about: taking time to renew and restore my mind, body and soul.  For me, it seems almost selfish, but it's not. In fact, knowing that is how he made us, instructed the people of Israel this way in Exodus 23:

10 “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard. 12 “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.

I like to stay busy - too busy, but God needs us to take a sabbath - even a sabbatical year - not just for ourselves, but for others.  God told the people their land needed to rest; their vineyards and orchards and fields needed to rest; their families and servants and animals needed to rest. And God used their rest to provide for the needs of others. Not planting meant they expected no crop, so they would be willing to let the poor and alien and the animals glean anything that did happen to crop up from last year's seed. Everyone would benefit from the rest and refreshing. In fact, it would be selfish not to rest. Remember that, self. Let's make the next 30 days a time where we let God refresh us, renew us, revive us - not only for our own good, but for all those around us.