Rest
is a beautiful word. When we enter God's rest, we stop our striving and
stressing in order to rest in the Lord (Hebrews 4:10). God demonstrated for us
how to rest, by ceasing from His own labors on the seventh day (Gen 2:1-25).
The
state of peace accompanying rest invokes a multitude of mental images, such as:
serene lakes, babbling brooks, graceful swans, a hammock on a spring day,
fluffy pillows and a comforter, or an overstuffed chair and a good book.
These
ideas summon the vision of serenity, tranquility, relaxation, repose and sleep.
There is no striving in rest. Rest is more than all of this, however. Most
importantly it includes peace of mind and spirit.
Rest
is freedom from strenuous activity or labor, a state of motionlessness, a
serene place of lodging, peace that passes all comprehension, a rhythmic
silence in music, and a bodily state characterized by minimal function and
slowed metabolic activities.
Examples
of rest are to decompress, relax at ease, leisure time, catnapping, dozing,
lazing, napping, slumbering, snoozing, stillness, calm, placidity, respite and
restfulness. Rest is motionless, supportive, quiescent, rejuvenating, quiet and
free from fear and worry.
Throughout
the course of history, mankind spends countless hours of time and a great deal
of money searching for serenity. However, it is not until we find peace with
God that we fully enter into our rest both now and for eternity.
Entering
God’s rest means to no longer strive to please God, or to worry about meeting
our needs, or to rely on our self-efforts (Hebrews 4:1-11). It means to fully
trust in our Heavenly Father's love and care, and to allow His Spirit to lead
us every step of the way.
Prayer:
Father
God, Christ’s work upon the cross and Your promises to meet all of our needs
sustain us with joy in our hearts (Hebrews 4:3). You advise us not to stress
over the evil person who prospers, and You encourage us to be still before You
and to wait patiently for You (Psalm 37:7). Then You will provide us with
healing for our body and strength for our bones (Proverbs 3:7).
You
remind us not to be impressed with our own wisdom (Psalm 127:2); but instead, to
honor You and to turn away from evil. Help us to put all of our trust in You,
to seek Your will in all that we do, and to wait on You to show us Your plan
for each moment of our day as we find complete solace in Your waiting arms
(Isaiah 50:10).
Thought
for the Day:
When
we are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, God calls us to trust in
Jesus Christ as our Savior, and for every other area of your life as well; this
enables us to enter into His rest as we take time to sit in God’s presence and
to come away renewed and refreshed.
-
Matthew 11:28-30; Exodus 33:14; Mark 6:31; Isaiah 50:10
