Rest Your Land

     After the wandering Israelites had roamed in the desert of confusion for 40 years, the Lord’s command for them going into Canaan was this:  “‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.  Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.  Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your male and female servants, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you” (Leviticus 25:2-6).
      Are you spinning your wheels getting nowhere but hurt and confused with men or women?  Do you need a rest from dating or relationships?  Time away from the frustration of trying to make something work with the opposite gender?  Maybe you've been sowing in the wrong places or at the wrong times?  Do you need some time just for YOU….no straining…to rest your land?  Maybe it’s time for a relationship Sabbath…time to step away from romantic relationships.  One definition Noah Webster gives the word Sabbath is an “Intermission of pain or sorrow; time of rest.” …rest your emotions…get or regain your bearings.
      In this scripture, the Lord instructed the Israelites to take "a sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the Lord".  Would it make sense to rest from relationships and do it with Him in mind.  This Sabbath time, a time of rest, is for the Lord and you together…time to establish a relationship with Him, time to grow in closeness with Him and develop yourself and life with Him…a time solely with Him.
      As the scripture says, whatever and all this Sabbath time yields will be for YOU.  And the people
closest to you will also reap the food or benefits as you rest, heal, grow and flourish.             
      If it’s called for, consider this Sabbath as doing something nice for yourself, for the Lord, for the others around you.  Rest your land.

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