God created us to need rest. We can deny ourselves for only so long and then collapse in a heap.

So often and in many areas, we feel that we are indispensable. We convince ourselves that we alone have the talent and strength to get the job done, whether it’s at work, with the kids, serving God, in our marriage or most any area of our life. Our hard work in an unbalanced life has its roots in something very basic. We'll explore that today in our audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 37:5-7

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord

and wait patiently for him;

RESOURCES:

--> Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Settling into a time of restful prayer isn’t the first thing you think about doing. Instead, turning on the TV, doing some gaming, checking social media, reading a book or finding a deal on Amazon might be the diversion of choice. Today, we'll go through an easy process you can engage in to find rest for your soul.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 29:1-9 (NIV)

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is majestic.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,

Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord strikes

with flashes of lightning.

The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;

the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord twists the oaks

and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

RESOURCES:

Other Psalms to pray through:

• Psalm 8: The majesty of God.
• Psalm 18: God’s rescue, faithfulness, rock and shield.
• Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd.
• Psalm 29: The glory, strength and splendor of God.
• Psalm 33: God sees all from his throne in heaven.
• Psalm 47: God our King.
• Psalm 66: God hears us.
• Psalm 89: The wonderful faithfulness of God.
• Psalm 95: Let us kneel before the God our maker.
• Psalm 96: Sing to the Lord.
• Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul!
• Psalm 118: God’s loving devotion towards us.
• Psalm 136: God’s love endures forever.
• Psalm 148: God’s name alone is exalted.
• Psalm 150: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

--> Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

I’m a wimp when I’m sick. I complain and I want to be left alone. My wife, on the other hand, never complains. Even during her cancer treatment, she never once complained. She had good reason to, but always remained positive. Even on the hardest days during chemo, and its side-effects, she remained steady.

How in the world can we be a joyful Christian when pain and sickness crush us? I'll share three helpful ways in today's audio devotional. Then we'll try something together at the end.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 148 (NIV)

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens

and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for at his command they were created,

and he established them for ever and ever—

he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and women,

old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

And he has raised up for his people a horn,

the praise of all his faithful servants,

of Israel, the people close to his heart.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com