If you’re new to Life Compass, on Sundays I write on Spirituality, Faith and Ethics. Here’s why.

Rest.  We all need it, whether we like to admit it or not.

I’m one of those people who doesn’t like to admit that I need it.  I can deceive myself into thinking that rest is only for the weak and weary.  It’s  for those who don’t have anything better to do, and for those who don’t want to get ahead.

Over time, though, I’ve come to find wisdom in setting aside a day for rest.

The history of this practice of rest goes back thousands of years.  In the creation account found in the Hebrew/Christian scriptures, God created the world in 6 days and then he rested from his work (Genesis 1:1-2:4).  Later, God instructed his followers to set aside one day a week as a day of rest (The Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:8-11). Some traditionally choose Saturday as a day of rest, some Sunday, and others choose a different day of the week, depending on their work schedule.

Whether you choose to set aside a day of rest because of faith reasons or not, I’ve discovered several other reasons to put this into practice in my own life.

1. It fosters a sense of gratitude.
2. It helps maintain balance in my life by drawing my focus to the things that are most important to me:  God, family, friends, others.
3. It helps me catch up and recharge my energy.
4. It inspires me.  I find it ironic that I get some of my best ideas and thoughts on the days that I set aside to rest and unplug.  Coincidence?

What about you?  Do you regularly set aside a day for rest?  If so, what are your favorite things to do on those days?   My favorite activities include going to church, reading to my kids, going for a bike ride or other family outing, playing outside, and reading the newspaper.

If you’re not in the habit of taking a day of rest, why not give it a try?  Let me know how it improves your work-life balance.

If you’re new to Life Compass, on Sundays I write on Spirituality, Faith and Ethics.  Here’s why.

Recently I heard some people use the words “hope” and “faith” interchangeably when they were talking about making change in their lives.   As they were talking, I began to wonder…are hope and faith really the same?  Here are my thoughts so far…

1. Hope doesn’t require any belief on my part that my life or situation can change.  For example, I can hope the Detroit Lions will have a winning season this year, but I don’t believe it will happen.  I think faith requires belief that things really can be different.
2. Hope doesn’t require me to take any action – I can just wait on others and hope they make things happen.  Again, I can hope the Lions win, but I cannot do a thing to make it happen.  I think faith requires that I do all that is within my power first…and then wait on others.
3. Hope doesn’t require that I take any particular posture.  I can hope that the Lions win, but I don’t have to go to a game, buy their merchandise, or watch the games on TV.  I think faith requires that I have a posture of expectancy.

In Mark 6:5, we read an account of Jesus in his home town of Nazareth.  The scripture tells us that he wasn’t able to do great miracles in that town because the people had no faith.

In other towns, people believed that Jesus could do something about their situation.  But not in Nazareth – they didn’t believe in Jesus at all.  In other towns people took action and brought their sick to Jesus for healing.  But not in Nazareth – there is no mention of anyone being brought to Jesus.  In other towns people took on a posture of expectancy that things could change.  But not here in Nazareth.  They expected no big miracles and they received no big miracles.

What about you, friend?  Do you think there’s a difference between hope and faith with regard to life change?  Please take a moment to share your thoughts.

On Sundays I write on Spirituality, Faith and Ethics.  Here’s why.

Ten years ago, when I first began using my Master Dream List, I had all kinds of goals for weight loss, income, family, career, etc.  But I didn’t really have anything written in terms of a spiritual goal.

Then one of my mentors suggested I write out a simple goal that says…

I will live to my full spiritual potential and help others do the same.

Over time, I’ve discovered that one of the best ways to make progress on this goal is to ask myself, every month or so, this question:

What three changes in my life would most please God right now?

It’s an interesting question because the answer is based both on my perception of who I am and how I’m doing, and who God is and what He expects of me.

If you have a desire to grow spiritually, you might want to ask yourself this question too.

On Sundays, I write on Spirituality, Faith and Ethics.  Click here to read why.

A while back, I asked some friends this question: “Why is it that most people fail to take bold action to achieve their dreams?”  I wrote about their responses in the post entitled, 9 Reasons Why You’ll Never Achieve Your Dreams.

A few of the answers I received had to do with faith…faith in God, yes…but also faith in ourselves.  In fact one person put it this way in their response: 

Many times, courage and faith are the missing ingredients.

So let me ask you – If you’re not achieving the success you had hoped to achieve in your life by now, are courage and faith missing ingredients in your life?

Do you struggle with mustering up the courage you need to take bold action in your life?  Do you lack faith in yourself and a belief that you can be successful in whatever you set out to do?

If so, I’d encourage you to pray and ask God to change your stinkin’ thinkin’.  He created you.  He loves you.  He believes in you and has a purpose and plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11).

Oh, and what if you don’t believe in God?  That’s OK.  He still believes in you.