The Golden State Warriors are back in the NBA Finals for the 6th time in eight seasons and beginning Thursday night will take on the Boston Celtics. The Celtics just finished up a tough seven-game series against the Miami Heat while the Warriors took care of the Dallas Mavericks in five games to advance to the Finals. By winning their series quickly, the Warriors ended up with a week off to rest before Game 1 begins. This past weekend, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said, "We gave our guys two straight days off, which is almost unheard of, in playoffs or even just regular season. So it was a great chance to decompress the last couple of days. "We won't have a formal practice until tomorrow. It'll be the first day we'll build on our opponent. So I've said it many times: You go to the Finals, it's almost a two-month journey filled with stress and fatigue, so if you can build a little break, it's very meaningful." Warriors' center, Kevon Looney, added, "Having two days off and a week between when we play, everybody can get their mind right, focus, and get the body back where they want it to get to.” For a veteran team like the Warriors, this break will be very beneficial and the rest they’ve been given will allow them to be better prepared to take on the Celtics. It doesn’t always work out for NBA teams to have an opportunity for such a well-timed break, but when it does happen they reap the rewards. Similarly, it's tough for us to find time to take a break or for our schedules to line up for an extended rest. However, hearing how the Warriors are finding so much value in their break can be an encouraging reminder for us to understand the importance of rest in our own lives. We know that life is fast-paced, jam-packed, and filled with demands on our time. What we can so easily cut out are significant rest and consistent breaks, but we miss out on so much when we do that. However, like the Warriors, our “journey is filled with stress and fatigue, so if we can build a little break, it’s very meaningful.” The challenge for us is to be intentional about taking time off from work, slowing down, and choosing to pause long enough to refocus and experience renewal. Steve Kerr used the word "decompress," which means to calm down or relax. As followers of Jesus, when we look at His pattern, we can see how He prioritized rest for Himself and His disciples. In Mark 6:30-32 (ESV), Jesus shows His disciples the importance of pulling away and getting refreshed: “The apostles returned to Jesus and told Him all that they had done and taught. “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. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.” It’s crucial that we embrace rest and what it does for us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We have to seek God for guidance on what rhythm is realistic and needed for the season of life we are in. The Warriors are benefiting from a week off before the Finals and then after the Finals, they will take a few months off. During the season they might only get a night off here or there. Each of us must take an inventory of our schedule and be willing to build in the proper time for rest and breaks. We must also remember what it says in Psalm 127:2 (NLT): “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.” Rest is a blessing from God, so are we trusting Him enough to experience it? Do we listen when He tells us, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile”? Today, let’s invest in rest and get away...fellowship with God...refuel...get refreshed...and refocus our minds and hearts on Him. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me to see the benefits of proper rest and significant breaks. I pray You'd provide me opportunities to slow down and get away to be with You. Help me to stop making excuses and show me how I can find ways to incorporate more rest into my life. Thank you for the blessing that rest is. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What is your rhythm of rest and taking breaks?
What prevents you from investing in rest and seeing the value of it?
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