The LORD is so good, and His agape love for us is beyond compare or human understanding! 

I had plans to go on a 21-day fast with my church, then my dear mother passed to Heaven a few days before the start date.  I had been serious about doing the fast, and vacillated in my mind about whether I could handle it or not, for the past several months had been wearying in several ways in the natural.

However, the LORD is my Strength and Song, and although I had not known the day my service to my dear very diseased, disabled mom would end, I knew He would get me through. He always has, and always will. Great is His faithfulness, forever!

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. - 2 Tim. 2:13, NLT

Daddy God helped me understand that, at this time of major change, I needed to set such a goal for another time, and eat well, exercise, and rest; that He cared for me much more than any "performance" I could do to draw closer to Him! 

I had grieved through the years, really, and bless the LORD, after making sure her heart was right with the Hospice chaplain (after almost 50 years of being unchurched!), my dear mother went to Heaven in her sleep, which is what several of us prayed for. 

Great is the faithfulness of our dear Father God, Who never "takes" people to Heaven, but receives them! 

Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints. - Psalm 116:15, NKJV

So, I'd been arguing with myself a couple days, off and on, but the LORD quietly assured me through His wonderful, all-knowing Holy Spirit, that He knew my heart; that it was OK to not do this 21-day fast, but that He wanted me to rest and rejoice in Him, and take care of myself.

He is my dear Daddy God, my Abba Father (since I repented of my sin years ago, when I asked Him to forgive me and cleanse me with the precious blood of His Son, King Jesus, Whom I asked to be my Savior and LORD. Hallelujah!), and loved me much more than any "performance" (although I'm totally for fasting and prayer, and have fasted many times, although not that long yet).

Hallelujah!

Praise the LORD, He is the perfect Parent! While He expects us to act--for faith/belief without works/acts is dead—He first loves us because we are His darling kiddos. He wants only the best for us, and that definitely involves rest and doing what else is needed to maintain good health and energy.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. – James 2:26, NKJV

This world, driven by our enemy, the devil, pushes and prods and pressures us--but only if we let him. 

LORD Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Shalom), and that includes rest! Jesus Himself took time to rest. It is both practical and spiritual. 

So "rest" is not only stopping physical exertion, but resting in our souls (mind/will/emotions), and refreshing our spirits in the Presence of God, the Holy One, through reading and listening to the Word; true worship; prayer; attending a Bible-believing church; fellowshipping with other Believers; and getting rid of wrong activities and attitudes that go against God. 

I have been guilty, even knowing how good and faithful and merciful God is, of trying to "perform" for Him. A few years ago, I started learning about prayer in the Courts of Heaven. (Hallelujah! Blessed are we whom He trains in His ways!) I had carefully crafted a prayer, and was a bit apprehensive about approaching God as The Righteous Judge, instead of my Father God, at the Throne of Mercy and Grace.

This was a big deal. 

So, I took my handwritten paper, and started to think about how I would approach the LORD in this new way. I was pretty much trembling (inside, at least) just thinking about doing this, but the LORD my Daddy God spoke so kindly to me!

Above all other titles that we give Him, the LORD God Jehovah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the King and LORD and Righteous Ruler of all is first, our Abba Father, our dear Daddy God! Hallelujah!

However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God]. - Romans 8:9, AMP - 

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. - I John 5:1, NLT

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of our Father God,  said in my heart, "It's not about the performance; it's about the passion!"

That gave me great relief, and great boldness! 

After all, fear can be disguised as many things, but it is not from God.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” – Romans 8:15, NKJV

So, just like we want our kids to do their best (and we can usually tell when they're not), when it comes down to basics, we first love them and want them to be well. We don't want them to be pressured and panicked, and stressing just to please us; that's not love. 

True love is not performance based, praise the LORD! 

If it was, none of us would ever be accepted into Heaven, for we could never be good enough to earn that holy eternal Life! 

Instead, Christ Jesus performed for us on the cross, by living a sinless life and giving all of His blood to pay for our sins--if we will just choose to believe and receive it. 

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. - Romans 5:6, NKJV

It is a choice for each of us. That's all the "performing" we have to do--to choose Christ; to choose Life! 

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15, ESV

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.