When I was a young man serving on staff at a church, an older guy in the church asked me if I had a day off. I could tell by how he was asking that he likely did not want me to have a day off. I told him I did, that I was taking Friday off each week. He responded, “Son, the devil doesn’t take a day off,” as if to say, “You are fighting him and so you should not take a day off either.” I said, “I know that and I am not trying to be like him.”
Leaders, we need some time off to rest and receive from God. One advantage of being a Christian leader is that you are not only pouring yourself out in service to others, but you can receive wisdom and power and strength from your Heavenly Father. Take time to receive from Him so that you are healthy. Those you lead benefit from you being healthy. And take time to remind yourself that you are not in charge by taking some time to rest and not work. Some have said the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap, because you are trusting that God is working while you are napping. You are releasing control to Him and not depending on yourself.
I still take a day off each week, and the best practice for me is to receive from God through what scholars call general and special revelation: general revelation being creation and special revelation being Scripture. My most fruitful and enjoyable days off combine some time in His creation and some time in His Word.
