How Well Are You Resting?
Friends! In a recent sermon series on the “Rhythms of Rest,” I found myself ever so slightly challenged re: getting enough rest. I found myself muttering, “Yeah, right!”
Of course, now may not be the best time to critique myself as my better two-thirds is recovering from getting a new knee. Akin to having a newborn who talks back (!!!), sorry, honey, sleep is a foreign concept in this household.
Nonetheless, I’d highly recommend listening to Kyle Idleman for the first two sermons in the series, and then landing on Ben Stuart’s sermon which was the last of the three.
Today we’ll be talking about Ben’s new book (which is largely what his sermon was about), War and Rest: Rhythms of a Well-Fought Life.
Author and pastor, Levi Lusko, says, “Rest and War offers the ingredients needed not just to face the chaos of life, but to come out stronger on the other side. Ben clearly communicates the ways to struggle well in a world that does not know rest. This resource will help you navigate this beautiful tension in your spiritual life and set in place disciplines that will help you flourish.”
Levi’s endorsement is one of nine including one by Lysa Terkeurst, and one by David Crowder, just to name a few. While I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its’ cover, I confess I do, plus I always check out the endorsements. (Kyle Idleman is also an endorser.)
Ben is a very engaging pastor, writer, and talented teacher. He’s the lead pastor in Washington, D.C., of Passion City Church. (www.passioncitychurch.com) Married to Donna, they have three children: Hannah, Sparrow, and Owen, to whom he dedicates this book.
Clearly an adventurer, Ben relays wild tales (that REALLY happened). The majority of the time, while reading the book, I found myself asking, “WHY is he doing this?” Or “HOW did he get himself in this situation?” Naturally the tales become superb visuals and lessons for us in our Christian walk. I’m certain these lessons tickle-while-bless our Heavenly Father. Oh, yes, laughter really is good medicine.
I love how The Message puts it:
Oh, but the book isn’t all comedy…au contraire, Ben gets serious with us while admitting some of his own doubts and struggles. He brings home the fact we must know our adversary and prepare to wage war against him.
The Bible has several names for our enemy, the devil: “Accuser, adversary, ruler of this world, the god of this age, Satan.” (I love how author Charles Martin refuses to capitalize one of the devil’s names: “satan.”)
We’d all be wise to put on the full armor of God DAILY. I back this up with we wouldn’t leave home without our “undergarments,” therefore, when getting dressed each morning, let’s be intentional to also put on the seven pieces of God’s armor:
The Belt of truth
The Breastplate of Righteousness
Our Feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel of peace
The Shield of Faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
The Helmet of Salvation
The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and
Prayer for all the saints (us believers), ALL the time…
(See Ephesians 6:10-18)
Prior to the listing of the above pieces of armor, the Ephesians passage begins with,
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, SO THAT you can take your STAND against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, SO THAT when the day of evil comes, you may be able to STAND your ground, and after you have done everything, to STAND. STAND firm then, with the Belt of truth, …”
Then follows the seven pieces of armor. Note “STAND” is in all caps to emphasize the importance of us standing our ground (standing FIRM in our faith), and the “SO THAT” is in all caps to show you why we’re told to put on the armor.
While Ben frequently reminds us spiritual warfare is all around us, he also comforts us with Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v.57)
He challenges us to be students of ourselves (and ultimately better stewards of ourselves), to remain aware of possible attacks from the enemy, Ben shows us how Paul advised the same tactic for Timothy:
It was Jesus who told his own disciples, “Watch and pray.” (Matthew 26:41)
Such pertinent Scripture is all throughout Ben’s book, another contributing factor in making this book such a thorough and valuable resource. He even includes a set of questions at the end of each chapter entitled, “Rhythms of War.” It’s as if he’s equipping us to do life during good times and hard times.
Ben’s teaching covers all areas of our lives. Warning: Some questions he asks of us may step on our toes a wee bit, BUT….they are so good to start us thinking in a better direction.
Recently I watched one of Liz Curtis Higgs’ FB videos from her Rise and Shine book. (She does this every Monday—don’t miss her!). Liz offered this verse:
And, checkout how Eugene Peterson paraphrases this verse in the Message:
Yes! Don’t you love that?
Lizzie adds, “How are YOU this week? Are you overwhelmed or are you an overcomer?” MAY WE ALL BE OVERCOMERS!!!!
That is how Ben encourages us, also teaching us what it looks like to paddle downstream and how to look upstream, how to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, how to prioritize our schedules, and more! Don’t miss this book!
Friends, may our souls be at rest…so we then can say, “Oh, yes, it IS well with my soul.”
Now you know how we like to close, “Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore and grab this book. You’ll be so glad you did.”
‘Til next time!
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.”