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It's Called REST!

by Tonja Taylor
1/04/2023 / Christian Living

Yesterday, although I didn't really feel pressure, I was determined to pray for hours, quote the Word for hours, do warfare via intercession, etc.--and then I got sleepy, and felt a bit condemned, and disappointed in myself.

This is not rest. It's the enemy (and our flesh, which doesn't believe God, nor want to submit to righteousness--but we take control over it and discpline it, with our spirits and souls, and all the more as we love and submit to God.), just like those who go against, and/or don't trust God are in continual vexation--Christian or not (Ask me how I know! Since I've been actually obeying the LORD and yielding to Him, to let much more of His character show through me, I have much more peace (read: rest)!).

And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [who had not listened to His word and who refused to be compliant or be persuaded]?--Hebrews 3:18, AMPC

So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].--Hebrews 3:19, AMPC

But my Daddy God Who loves me revealed to me, once again, that my relationship with Him is not based on performance!

First, God never condemns. Jesus took and destroyed condemnation, when He allowed Himself (by His faith) to become sin (I cannot fathom that, but I believe it!) for us, and thus broke the power of sin and condemnation off us--unless we who are born again by faith in what Jesus' blood did for us, and agree with the enemy (who is the one truly condemned. He is a liar!).

Next, God Who knows all things (and even every word before we speak it!), and sees the entirely of our lives at once, is not disappointed. He uses our mistakes and misplaced and vain intentions to lead us to greater understanding of His goodness and faithfulness and love, and as only He can, works them together for good, to help us be more effective for His Kingdom.

Third, and most important, He loves us no matter what. He never changes! Praise Him! He is Love (I John 4:8), and His Love endures forever! Glory glory glory to God!

So, just like we love our children, and don't want them to beat themselves up for making a mistake (although we do, of course, want them to repent when they deliberately broke a rule, etc.), but want them to learn from the experience and move on to greater victory, our Daddy God sees us the same way.

He doesn't want us to be fearful or anxious (He commands us to be "anxious for nothing." Those things are part of what the enemy has--fear and anxiety.), but at peace.

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it.--Hebrews 4:1, AMPC

When we mess up, He comforts and encourages us, and wants us to get back up and go on.

So, when I got sleepy and felt guilty and disappointed in myself, my sweet, faithful Father was not disappointed. Instead, He Who knows every thought before we think it, spoke to my heart and said, "It's called 'rest'!"

With that peaceful thought, I released my care to Him, and leaned back and snoozed a bit! It was great! After just a few minutes, I woke, refreshed, then opened one of my prayer books. I felt His sweet Presence, and believe that I most likely prayed more perceptively and thus effectively, than if I had prayed before I rested.

(At the same time, I know our awesome, darling Daddy God can take even the smallest genuine effort we make to help others and advance His Kingdom. He is THE gracious, glorious, most benevolent King! Hallelujah!)

His Love, of course, is perfect, and His wisdom beyond understanding. However, He continues to teach us His ways, so we can walk closers to Him in greater joy, peace, freedom, victory, abundance, wholeness, favor, and every good thing!

The world and the enemy bring strife, vexation, UNrest.

Only the LORD can give us true peace--and help us to abide (remain; stay) there!

"Rest" is peace. "Rest" is trust. "Rest" is freedom from fear--which starts with the knowledge that, no matter what, God always does Genesis 50:20 (What the enemy means for evil, God always works for good!) and Romans 8:28 (We know that all things work together for us who love God and are the called, according to His power that works among us), among the remainder of His Word, as needed for every situation for the lives of us, His beloved children. Hallelujah!

For he who has once entered [God’s] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own. Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].--Hebrews 4:10, 11, AMPC

Ask your Father God to forgive you for not trusting Him more, and missing the rest that He has provided. After decades of UNrest, the LORD has finally helped me get to a place where I have much more rest--spirit, soul, and body. Many changes had to be made, but working through the changes is SO worth it!

Also, when we rest, that brings glory to God and shows this needy world more of His goodness--for the whole world is really seeking rest and peace in all these things (sometimes very wrong!) that they do.

When we truly rest in the LORD, continuing to trust Him and knowing He is good and always leads us in right paths to help us, then we are truly helping others see the real Jesus--which is, dear friend, why we are still on the planet!

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.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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