I must tend my spiritual Canaan as faithfully as the Israelites did their physical land. Tending my blessing means two things: resting it and redeeming it. The Israelites “rested” their land each week on the Sabbath day, each seventh year, and each fiftieth year, the year of jubilee (Leviticus 25:1–12). Resting the land was necessary to its longevity and its fruitfulness. So I must “rest” myself occasionally as God did on the seventh day, and as Jesus did on several occasions (Mark 6:31). I must not goad myself into ceaseless activity because “Satan never vacations.” Everybody vacations, including God, though He is exhaustless.
Spiritual rest involves rest from my enemy and rest for my spirit. Only God can give me rest from my enemy; therefore, I must concern myself with rest for my spirit, which is my responsibility. Since I am responsible for the use of my time, body, and talents, I am also responsible for my rest. Neither my body nor my spirit can grind on continually, because they were never meant to. Spiritual growth is like physical growth; it comes in spurts and pauses. I must always have the mind-set of Jesus, who, despite the overwhelming crush of needs around Him, took His rest.
Every spiritual blessing I actualize in my life must take time to mature. I must not only learn a lesson; I must absorb it. Perhaps that explains why there are so few real saints today, and an overabundance of managers and promoters. I must remember that my spiritual refreshment is vitally tied to a Person. “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). I do not vacation from God but in God; that is, my being is in Him even though my faculties may be coasting.
“And He said to them. ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)” (Mark 6:31).
Daily with the King 