There are many things in our everyday life that can steal our peace and consequently our rest.
I’ve discovered (the hard way) that I must let go of the concerns and worries of this life if I want to step into all that God has for me. I must choose everyday to let go of the world’s worries and to embrace all of heaven, because otherwise the world and its “noise” will “pull me out” of that rest.
There is an account in the bible about how the Israelites struggled and constantly questioned God. They doubted His goodness even when He had shown His power, love and concern for them in releasing them from slavery . They chose to strive and stress, and because of it they never were able to enter into the rest God had planned for them. Through their lack of trust and resultant disobedience they missed it. But God says, “There remains a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11)
God’s rest could be described as ceasing from our works, just as God ceased from His. In one sense, to receive and trust in God means to stop relying on our works , and instead to rest securely on what Jesus has already done for us. It’s not about what we can do, but what He has done for us. Which is that He has done everything!
Today, make the effort to enter into God’s rest. It will mean letting go of the controls; of laying aside what you may want, so as to take hold of something better. It means trust, and believing that God’s goodness will work on your behalf; and it’s means seeking Him first in everything. It can require us to come aside by ourselves and allow God into every space of our hearts, which often means we will have to deal with some issues in our life. But these are the very issues, which so often steal our peace and rest. However the benefits of entering into God’s rest are huge, and not to be underestimated. The benefit is peace and a rest deep on the inside that nothing can compare with. The benefit is being able to find a place in God where you are able to experience more of heaven and the joy that is in that place, and to carry it wherever you go.
Jesus said “come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. For there were many coming and going and they did not even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31)
“You will keep in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3)
Today cease from all your “works” and enter His rest!
Prayer: Lord help me to let go of all the concerns of the world and the things that so readily seek to steal my peace and rest in you. I seek to enter your rest today. In Jesus Name Amen.
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