Intentional Rest

rest

It’s July!

In July, Holy Yoga rests.  Ministry wide, we take a sabbath…on purpose. It’s intentional.

And challenging.

I’m tempted to say, “Who? Me? I’m good with resting.  I like to lay around and be lazy.” But the truth is, I may look like I’m resting.  Feet up and coffee in hand but I’m always thinking. Planning. Dreaming. Preparing.

Sometimes our mind is working even when our body isn’t.

This is why Savasana or Corpse Pose in yoga is so challenging for some people.  Our minds may keep racing while we are trying to lay still.  The key word is “trying”.  I tell my yoga students to just let everything go…don’t force anything…surrender…listen for God’s voice.  But that’s tough for some of us, right?  To turn off the “trying”.

When does the surrender come in? When does the rest just happen? How can we do this thing called downtime?

I don’t have the answers.  July for me this year is an experiment.

I’m a little scared I have to admit.  Even in resting I want to achieve.  I want July to be nourishing and rejuvenating.  I have preconceived notions about what it looks like to rest.  I want to rest well.  Even resting brings up striving tendencies.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…the more I read God’s Word, the more I pray and build a relationship with Jesus…the more I hear His voice telling me to rest.  I feel He is asking me to join Him, to step into what He is already doing…I am invited but this is His show…I can join in but I am not the director.  Continuing in that theme…July is intermission.  It’s time to take a break.  I’m reminded of Jesus and his breaks…the times He took time off to pray and spend time with His Father.

So I will rest. I don’t know what that means and I’m not sure how to do it but I keep going back to His Word that tells me that my salvation is found in rest and stillness and trust. (Isaiah 30:15)

So, no planning for July.

Just presence.  In each moment. Presence.

And trust.

©2014 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™, All Rights Reserved

No Holy Yoga classes in July.  I look forward to seeing you all again in August! 

Author: Sue

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