Busy RestingSample

Rest Your Look

As I mentioned in the first day’s devotional, Sundays are usually not the day to take a break from looking our best. Whether we feel like it or not, we must take care to look presentable at all times. How exhausting!

In Psalm 23, David tells us how his outward appearance becomes part of the rest he finds in the Lord. “You honor me by anointing my head with oil.” (v. 5, NLT) Regardless of the hairstyles or fashion of the day, David is refreshed by the nourishment and fragrance of the Lord’s anointing oil.

In the same way, many relaxing spa experiences focus on the soothing qualities of aromatherapy oils. While the rich oils feed our tired skin and hair, the aromatic fragrances relieve tension and calm us down. Even an hour in the hands of a skilled massage therapist is enough to bring a sense of rest to our worn-out bodies.

We may not be able to afford a spa treatment once a week, but we can build these principles into our weekly rest day. Why not stay without the hairdryer and make-up for one day a week? Instead, use your rest day to nourish your hair and skin with aromatic oils. Or how about choosing a special fragrance to use on your rest day only? It may just happen that your mind starts associating the beautiful aroma with rest and relaxation within a few weeks.

Do you sometimes feel exhausted by the effort it takes to look your best? How can you take a rest from your look for one day each week? Which aromatic fragrance makes you feel relaxed?

Let us find creative ways to give our bodies a rest from looking their best. And let us not allow our pride to get in the way of being refreshed as the Lord desires. “My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.” (Hosea 14:7)