Devotions

Take A Break. Talk To God. :: Deeper Devotion

Take A Break. Talk To God.

November 3, 2008
Comments: [2]

By Glenn Ansley

Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

It’s not uncommon for students to stay up past midnight during the final weeks of their semester, only to find themselves waking up again before the sun has risen. Unfortunately, a busy schedule isn’t always the greatest sign of maturity… add to that the “self-made millionaire” mentality of our culture and life can get away from you before you know it.

While countless mothers would be proud of the “unsupervised motivation” they’ve developed in our study habits, verses like Psalm 127:2 help to balance the glorification of diligence with the reality of total depravity. “The bread of painful labors” may come with much satisfaction and glory, but the Lord “gives to His beloved even in his sleep!”

This verse reminds us that, to be a successful student, we must place more priority on becoming “the beloved of the Lord” than on becoming one who painfully labors over foreign languages, world history, and killer mathmatics. Let me encourage you to get some sleep this week and to spend time with the Lord. You may just find that He will bless your desire for Him more than your desire for a good grade.

Are you striving to become a “beloved” of the Lord, or would you rather nickel and dime your life away on the bread of painful labors?


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2 Responses to “Take A Break. Talk To God.”

  1. shinynewheart Says:
    April 26th, 2005 at 3:27 pm

    Wow, thank you! that really spoke to me. It is way too easy to lose sight of what is really important when it comes to school work. I always strive to do my very best, but just today, i caught myself placing way too much value on academic achievement, the desire for a higher mark, wah wah wah. The result was that I was feeling way low - and now i see that it is because I took my eyes of Jesus and what really counts. You have encouraged me to place greater emportance on being a follower of Jesus than getting another gold star to add to my report card! Thx!!!

  2. HeSustainsMe Says:
    April 29th, 2005 at 11:42 pm

    wow. that definitely hit home with me. the last two or three nights this week. i've been doing just what you're talking about. i had presentations to finish, essays to write, projects to do, and that was all on top of my regular homework. i found myself most of this week, slaving away at my computer - desperately trying to get all of this homework done. i would be up all night and into the early hours of the morning and by the time i was finished and ready to have my quiet time with the Lord, i fell asleep after about three sentences of my prayer… before i even got to my Bible reading. thanks for helping me realize we are called to greater things than just getting good grades. i shouldn't be sacrificing my time with God for anything of worldy importance.

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