How to Take a BreakPrøve

“We’re constantly trying to find meaning in everyday situations; our antennas are always out trying to perceive what others think. We need a break from the pressure.” –John Brandon in The 7-Minute Productivity Solution.

When we are consumed with the tasks and pressures of the day, we barely come up for air. We lose sight of our identity in Christ. Taking a brain break allows us to think outside the task at hand. We can reflect on who Jesus made us to be. Our worth is not defined by how much we do in a day or how well we do it. 

We are God’s children (1John 3:1). We are created in his image (Genesis 1:27). We are heirs of God and his glory (Romans 8:27). We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). 

With these truths in mind, consider how your time is spent and its connection to your feelings of self-worth. When we spend so much time on our work we often feel worthless when outcomes aren’t what we were hoping for. However, scheduling in breaks and being purposeful with how we spend them allows us to see ourselves as image-bearers of Christ.

Even when our identities are secure in Christ and we are working from an eternal perspective, we need rest. In Mark 6, the disciples had been ministering all day. Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest,” (Mark 6:31). All day the disciples had been working in Jesus' name, spreading the gospel, and healing the sick. I imagine they felt weary and spent. Perhaps the twelve disciples were wondering how they could give anymore. Jesus saw their need and provided rest, and he does the same with us. 

Jesus is our foundation, our identity, our motivation for our work, and he is the provider of rest. Schedule a time (how about 7 minutes!) to rest in him today. Close your laptop, silence your phone, and spend 7 minutes asking God to uplift you and give you energy for the rest of the day.