Take a break from work and see what happens.

A few years ago I started this practice of just pausing and walking away from the work. It has been helpful in a number of ways. The greatest in helping me re-focus on my family relationships and my relationship with Jesus.

Hobbies can increase time with family.

What does the Norton family do when dad’s not working? It often includes an outdoor activity of some sort. Yesterday, for example, I didn’t write a word. Instead, we packed up our fishing gear and a lunch, and hiked into a lake that our family had never fished before.

We ended up getting skunked, there were a few squabbles between my three sons, and one of them may have hit the other with a stick. On the flip side, most of the day was full of fun and laughter, sun, trees, and mountain air, and us being together.

It was good for all of us to spend time in God’s Creation. It was good for all of us to spend time with each other.

Hobbies can increase time with Jesus.

I’m a pastor with a side gigg is a Christian writer. One could easily point to my work as something done for Jesus, and therefore, I should work as much as possible. Someone might point to a lack of discipline if I stopped writing for a few weeks.

These may sound like tempting arguments, but I know they’re wrong. If I took this approach, I’d be tripping over a far greater issue; one that impacts the spiritual battle going on inside of my and all around me.

Believe it or not, a pastor can be working so hard for Jesus that he stops spending time with Jesus. Pausing work purposefully, to shift our focus toward a form of recreation, is kind of like opening up a gate in our minds. Perhaps, in a sense, opening up a gate in our souls?

As our minds wander, new thoughts and ideas spark, that wouldn’t if we were working.

We pray, reflect and meditate.

Soon we’re wide open for the Holy Spirit to impress upon our hearts new thoughts and ideas. He brings us encouragements and convictions. We may find ourselves in a conversation with our Creator, praising Him and thanking Him for all He has done, all He has blessed us with.

During these moments of recreational activity, we more easily lift up praises for what’s pleasant in our lives, or offer requests for decisions to be made or to ease stress in our lives. Our prayer life is often enriched when we stop working.

Back to the spiritual battle.

I’ll start with a caveat, that work is a good thing. God made work, and we should work. God actually made 6 days of work, so that fact that we take two days off each week is an added bonus. However, let’s focus for a moment, on the temptation to not take a day of rest.

1. If leaving work for a day or two, to engage in hobbies and recreational activities keep us closer to family, who would want us to work on the weekend?
2. If hobbies and recreation time are closely knit to Jesus through prayer and meditation, who would wants us to work on the weekend?

Satan. Satan wants to destroy your deepest relationships; with your family and with Jesus. He’s a deceiver, convincing us that working is more important so that we’ll stay away from the people closest to us, and keep our focus away from God.

Don’t be tricked; stop working and rest!

Embracing a day of rest to intentionally engage in hobbies or recreational activities will heal your heart, mind and soul. At the end of that day, you might not have got anything accomplished work-related, but you will have acheived so much more.

Today, take some time to do something you love with the people you love, and let Jesus do the rest.

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

• What’s your favourite hobby or recreational activity?
• What activity will you schedule in for this weekend?
• Who will join you this weekend?