Read Mark 6 Jesus faces challenges of rejection and needs of the multitude.

And He said to them, Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31 NKJV)

Jesus sent the disciples to serve in the towns of Galilee (Mark 6:7-12). John the Baptist had been beheaded. Now the disciples have returned. Jesus and His disciples had just come to a deserted place. Perhaps they needed to comfort one another as well to give an account of what they had done. But the crowds of people interrupted their retreat!

Jesus patiently and generously ministered to the people and immediately He made His disciples get into the boat to the other side and dismissed the multitude while He Himself departed to the mountain to pray (Mark 6:45-46). Jesus had set Himself as an example

Jesus knew they needed a time of rest. In acrostic, R.E.S.T as R; Retreat by releasing and letting go what is clamouring for attention. Jesus told His disciples to get to a deserted place where they might be free from noise and hurry, and take some rest and refreshment, after their wearisome journey, hard labours, and great fatigue in preaching and working miracles

E: Engage with the Lord, His agenda. This predisposes an attitude of submission and obedience. Struggling to go our own way make us restless. Such struggle, are rooted in our pride, ego as man pleaser, messianic syndrome with the people continually coming to be healed and be heard.

S: Seek for His strength. Ministry can drain us. It's more than the need of physical food and rest but spiritual renewal. We are often task-oriented keeping ourselves occupied even ignoring sufficient rest. God wants our attention. The being must come before doing.

T: Thanksgiving is an expression of contentment, trust and confidence that He would work out all things for good to those who love Him. We experience rest when we leave to God the outcome of what we have been empowered by God to do.

Prayer: Lord thank You for occasions where I experience isolation as those occasions caused me to dwell upon You. I am renewed in the inner man to face the challenges ahead. I can only be as effective as I have rested in Your presence.

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