This year make it your goal to make time for leisure
Rest is freedom from work, toil, strain or activity. Rest is the cessation of motion or action of any kind, and applicable to anybody or being, as rest from labour, rest from mental exertion or rest of body or mind. A body is at rest, when it ceases to move. The mind is at rest, when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated.
Genesis 2:2–3 (ESV) “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
God created seven days, he worked on six days; then He rested, not because He was tired but to set the standard for mankind to follow. The Ten Commandments made resting on the Sabbath a requirement of the Law. God desires rest for us because it does not come naturally to us. To rest, we have to trust that God will take care of things for us.
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (NLT) “Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbours. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind. 5 “Fools fold their idle hands, leading them to ruin.” 6 And yet, “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.”
It is foolish to be idle and not work – that will always lead to ruin. Even those who don’t have jobs should work – somehow, someway. At the same time, it is “chasing the wind,” to work overly hard so that you have more and more!
“When you get very weary, and perhaps worried as well, the best thing you can do is to go to sleep. Go to bed, brother; and go to sleep. It is astonishing what a difference a night’s rest makes with our troubles. I would say this literally to fidgety, worrying people, like myself, “Go to bed, brother, go to bed.”But I would also say it spiritually to all sorts of people; when you are feeling weak, and disturbed, and you do not know what to do for the best, “Go into the presence of God, and there get rest.” “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Charles Spurgeon
Life is here to enjoy! Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NLT) “So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labour, for these are gifts from God.”
Mark 6:31 (ESV) “And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Leisure time allows you to step back physically but most important, mentally — from stress. Take some time to plan your leisure time to be happy and enjoy yourself.