Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
As I read Scripture, I’m reminded how important it is not only to study the words of God but also the ways of God. Isaiah tells us that God’s ways are higher and different from ours—and we see that truth plays out again and again.
In Matthew 4, right after Jesus is baptized by His cousin John, He heads into the wilderness to fast for 40 days. This moment marks the beginning of His earthly ministry, yet instead of jumping straight into healing and teaching, Jesus withdraws. He embraces rest before work.
That’s so different from our human instinct, which is to rest from our work. This pattern—rest before assignment—is woven throughout Scripture. God instructed Elijah to “go and hide” before his ministry began. Moses spent 40 years in the desert before stepping into God’s calling. And of course, one of the Ten Commandments anchors us in the rhythm of Sabbath rest.
Healthy rhythms of rest lead to greater fruitfulness for God’s Kingdom. Jesus modeled this perfectly. Even as His ministry expanded and crowds pressed in, He continually retreated to be alone with the Father. When we skip rest, we slip into working from our own strength. I know the feeling of walking into Monday already exhausted because I didn’t honor a Sabbath—and I’m guessing you do too. We simply aren’t our best when we live outside God’s rhythms.
Because Jesus took this time away with the Father, He was spiritually strengthened and ready for Satan’s attacks. His body may have been weakened by fasting, but His spirit was strong. He recognized the lies of the enemy instantly and defeated them with Truth.
Another way God is evident in Matthew 4 is Jesus’ commitment to community. He begins gathering a small group—His disciples. Though we often think of the core twelve, His circle also included women and other followers. From this small group, the Kingdom multiplied like wildfire.
We also see Jesus intentionally going out into the community, healing and serving those in need. His life moved in three directions: UP, IN, and OUT.
UP: Time with the Father—resting, listening, and preparing.
IN: Time with His small group—teaching, shaping, and equipping them for purpose.
OUT: Time serving the hurting and broken around Him.
When Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew, He invited them to follow Him and become “fishers of men.” That same invitation extends to us. Will we follow Him? Will we set aside our ways and embrace His—UP, IN, and OUT? Will we exchange the world’s exhausting rhythms for God’s life-giving ones so we can stand strong against the enemy and serve others well?
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Prayer: Jesus, Your ways are perfect. I want to lay down my ways and my wants so I can take up Yours. I know this is a daily choice, and I know Your way is better. Help me walk in healthy rhythms of rest and work. Help me live UP, IN, and OUT—just as You did—so that my life brings glory to You. Amen.