Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

We honor the Lord by treating our body with the love and respect it deserves. That means breathing deeply, enjoying nutritious food, sipping fresh water, and connecting with people, pets, and projects that bring us joy. Movement — stretching, gardening, walking — along with expressions of gratitude and engagement in prayer all count toward good health. Sleeping restfully and slowing down to take breaks are important. Remember, even amid great turbulence, Jesus slept and crafted calm (Mark 4:35-41). In addition, Jesus offers us our own needed rest as shown in Matthew 11:28-30. Even God exemplified the importance of repose by taking time off on his seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:1-3).

Elizabeth Cavanaugh
South Pasadena, CA

Dear Lord, thank you for helping us rest and take good care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually so that we can better care for those we love. Amen.

Reflect: How can you bring joy to your heart while treating your body as God’s temple?

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and Proverbs 17:22