REST AND SHARPEN THE AX

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap what grows of itself in your harvest, or gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. (Leviticus 25:2-5 ESV)

A few years ago I experienced something that I had never really experienced in my lifetime - I hit the wall. And when I did, everything around me seemed to come crashing down on me.  Circumstances of life compounded upon each other and I was left with an emotional tank that was completely empty.  In fact, it was probably in the deficit territory. Thankfully, during that time, with the help of some very wise people, I was able to reach out and get the help I needed.  For three months I stopped what I was doing and rested and I also began the process of resharpenig my ax.  

It is interesting that in the Book of Leviticus that God also sees the need for people and land to take a needed break every once in a while.  They were to stop their usual labor, alter their daily routines, and change their lifestyle for a season.  We can only press ourselves so far and then we need stop and get some needed rest.  We have to stop and re-tool ourselves and sharpen our ax for the journey ahead.

So, how did the Sabbath help them?

1-  The people received the needed rest 
2-   It gave them the opportunity for redemption  - Every Israliete could return to ancestral lands and redeem them
3-  It gave them time to reflect on their lives and where they were going in the future
4-  It gave the people time to repair that was broken and figure out the type of crops they wanted to invest in over the next 7 years
5-  It gave the people time to invest in relationships which often get overlooked during seasons of labor
6-  It gave the people time to refocus on God and their relationship with Him.

During the season of my "meltdown" Denise and I were fortunate to spend time in Colorado at a Pastor's Retreat called Sonscape (sponsored by Focus On The Family).   We were able to sit and reflect, refocus and heal.  We found that God had not left us but that we had just lost sight of Him along the way.

Everyone of us needs to take time to rest and sharpen the ax for the next season in our lives.  I pray that God will help during this season to refocus back upon Him and that you will be refreshed in your heart in your heart in worship to Him.  I pray that you would again find your strength in The Lord and that you would see that God has not left you or abandoned you.  May God's light shine upon all your ways.  Amen.