Where are you on the “at rest” scale, with ten being at total rest, and zero, of course, being completely unnerved, twitchy, can’t settle your thoughts in one place, and restless? How about the “peace scale”? Are you feeling a little untied to a stable place? Peace, not just every now and then, that’s just people, but as in everyday, most of the time being at peace.
In today’s society, considering the vacuum of truth in our midst, i would imagine peace and rest are a “hard to come by” commodity for many.
Let me encourage you: do something good for yourself and embrace them both, peace AND rest, don’t let them get away! In fact, don’t just get rest and peace, live in it so they are a constant, not just a momentary thing that fades until next time.
Isaiah 57:2, “he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.” That is “peace” as in shalom peace, a quieted soul even though the storm rages outside, and “rest” as in “laid to rest our inner turmoil” or absence of outward or inward busy activity which prevents one from being present and in the room.
Listen and believe this – God keeps an eye on his friends, His ears pick up every moan and groan, He even hears you when you sweat. The Hebrew word for rest literally means to live untroubled, to live in a sense of calm that is not dependent on outside sources, breathing in His uninterrupted passion and love for us who are the object of His affection, standing in the never ending eye of the flaming love of God. That is extravagant, i know, but from God’s perspective, that is a visual of His heart for us.
Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
If you are a friend of Christ then you are at rest in Christ. It seems it would be a good question to ask: who specifically are God’s friends? Are you a friend of God? How can you tell? Do you think that being a friend of God would be something you might be interested in? Do you think the Lord will let those who do NOT love Him, come and stay at His house and be part of the number He considers His family? Would you be glad to share your family name with someone who doesn’t like you, only wants what you’ve got, and wishes you were anyone other than who you are? Neither does He. But if you’re willing to change bloodlines, and change your name, then the Lord has more than you need, forever.
He’s got peace, shalom peace, full in all His pockets. Really, really. i fully believe Jesus has e-x-a-c-t-l-y what you need. Peace and rest. Let me add, in order to get the rest and peace we so desperately need, we’ll have to let go of some old things. Our shadows follow us around where ever we go, waiting to be unfolded. If we’re not willing to deal with shadows from our past, we may just end up shadow boxing with ourselves.
God can make right character bloom like fragrant flowers with rest and peace abounding far beyond the moon that fades from view every day. He can give you peace that will rule in your heart from sea to sea, from the River to the Rim. My friend, that’s worth having, don’t you think?
There was a man God raised up. He was a friend of God and God loved him so much. For a period of time though, the man did almost everything wrong: he loved his money too much, he greedily took another man’s wife, he dreamed wrongful things, acted so foolishly with no thought of tomorrow, and when he spoke, out of his mouth came poison water, at least that’s what he heard. All that plus he talked too much, his mouth had very little reservation about anything.
But above and through it all, he never let go of hope that God would have mercy on him. In the end, the Lord did exactly that, and God’s peace and rest ruled supreme in the man’s heart, mind, and body. Eventually he died, and he died at rest, in peace. Can you relate to any of that? Maybe you can or not. Either way, the need for rest and peace in the hearts of people is overwhelming, whether you’ve always been brother Big believer, sister super Christian, or a minimal believer, only calling on God in times of desperation. i’d say these are desperate times for everyone, and becoming more-so every day. Now is the time to call on Jesus. i’d like to be well practiced at being at peace and living in a state of rest, so i’m not overwhelmed in the day of trouble. Wouldn’t you?
John 14:26 “The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”
Jesus gives us His rest and peace, and if anyone, anywhere, has them, it’s totally Gods domain. And i don’t mean peace as in a lack of violence, with everyone thinking we’re wonderful with hundreds of likes on FaceBook. i mean when the world swirls around us in chaos and dysfunction, in our hearts we are at peace like still waters and at rest because we have ceased from strife. We easily have rest because we trust God more than we fear what our eyes see and ears hear. Rest and peace. God designed it, God owns it, it is His to do with as He does.
Rest my friend and be at peace, in the name of Jesus. Considering the times, it’s a very valuable commodity. Do the right thing, let rest and peace bloom in your life like a field of wild flowers.
i’m Social Porter for Living In His Name.