Ok, friends, let me be very transparent and confess something to you. That’s got your attention, hasn’t it?

It has to do with taking a little time off for rest and recreation. When I was a younger pastor, I was notorious for giving good advice to others but not following it so much myself. I often counseled those from various walks of life, stressing to them the importance of our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and that their bodies needed rest. I even shared with them the importance of getting a change of situation and scenery just like the early disciples did. Think of these verses.

”And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into the desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately” (Mark 6:31-32).

But sometimes I was not so good at taking my own counsel. I seldom took my full vacation time. Sometimes we returned from vacations early because of emergencies in the church family. Take it from me. I am doing better (not perfect!) at this and want to encourage you likewise. Take some time off, even a few hours here and there, to enjoy the Lord and your family. You’ll be glad that you did.

Here’s a thought: If you are too busy to invest a few minutes to read your Bible and pray, then friend, you are not managing your time and you are too busy!