“regroup” = “reassemble or cause to reassemble into organized groups; rearrange (something) into a new group or groups”
Today has been a “regrouping” day. After ten wonderful days of travel, the realities of unpacking, laundry, and exhaustion hit. I slept in, I took a nap from 11:30 – 1:30 midday, and it’s 7:30 p.m. and I’m thinking seriously about bedtime. Lame? Pathetic? Maybe. But mostly just tired. “This, too, shall pass” and my energy will return. In the meantime, I acknowledge the reality of needing to regroup.
God’s will for us is to regularly regroup – to rest from our regular activities on the Sabbath and spend time with him. In our modern American culture, this is VERY difficult, whether your “Sabbath” is a Sunday or another day. Every day seems filled with some type of work or worthwhile (or not-so-worthwhile) activity for yourself, your family, or your community and we find it hard to just stop … and quit doing.
But Jesus did. He went away by himself to pray. He knew how to immerse himself in God so he could do all that he had to do.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)
My regrouping involves going to God for direction for how to proceed with the things I still have on my list for this summer. My regrouping involves working through some physical projects and preparation for upcoming activities. My regrouping means returning to some internal, spiritual work that I have put off and need to do.
“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12 NIV)
Tonight I feed my body good food, and give it lots of rest. Tonight I trust that as I go to God for renewal and refreshment, he will help me figure out where, when, and how to regroup so that my summer can be fruitful. But, I rest in the Lord, trusting him to help me regroup.
Renewing God,
Thank you for the gift of rest you offer each of us through your Sabbath. Thank you for your wisdom and guidance when we come to you for refreshment and renewal. Thank you that you help us regroup when we feel exhausted or overwhelmed. Help us remember that we rest secure in you who shields us and helps us rest between your shoulders. Grant us peace and rest this day we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.
“‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:3 NIV)
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him,
for he shields him all day long,
and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” (Deuteronomy 33:12 NIV)