rest

When we rest in what God speaks, we teach our hearts how to live in complete peace. At its core, rest is trust. It is a knowing. It’s trusting completely in who God says He is and what He says is true. Oxford dictionary defines trust as “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” We know that God’s word is the foundation for our lives. Have you ever had moments where God speaks to you, but it feels too…unreal? Or impossible? Maybe you’ve been waiting to see His word to you come to pass for years. Friend, I want to encourage you to rest in what God speaks. Not because of the reward on the other side of your rest, but because He is a good Father. Check out this week’s article for 5 practical ways to rest deeper in His promises to you. Whether they are huge milestone promises for your life, or the simple “mundane” promises of this season, they are important to Him!

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

What is rest?

“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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Rest isn’t just lying on the couch for the afternoon or taking a vacation. It’s a position of our hearts. When we rest our spirits in Yeshua’s life-giving presence, we experience rest in our everyday. To achieve this rest, we must shift our mindsets out of “doing” things for God into just “being” with Him.

Remind yourself often

Living in a state of remembrance renews hope. In places where you may have forgotten or become doubtful, reminding yourself of what God speaks is true. Perhaps more importantly, bringing your heart back to the very moment He spoke it. Training your spirit to continue to access the moment of your promise keeps you settled. It ensures the foundation of your life is steadied on the Lord.

Place your promises in heavy traffic areas of your home, in your car, backpack or purse. Choose to become familiar with the promise of God’s word to you!

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Proverbs 3:3)

Share it with those you love

It can be scary to share. Sometimes telling others is a step of faith in and of itself. This telling–this confession–helps us to rest in what God speaks. When we choose to share, we open our hearts to our spouse, friends, and family. They have the opportunity to partner their faith with ours. And from a place of rest, we can demonstrate for others what it looks like to have true, lasting peace in Jesus. Once you share with those in your life, God’s word for you will become more real and tangible. Even more, you now have accountability and other’s to remind you of it.

“³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,⁴ by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises,” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Fall into His word, not your circumstance

Chose to continue to fall back on His word, despite what’s happening around you. Acknowledge what is hard and difficult, but don’t stay there. Stay on His word. There will always be reasons, roadblocks, and places where doubt will try to seep in. Our faith, joy, and assurance is not in these outward circumstances, but His word.

“And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24)

Remember His promises to others

“ But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. ¹⁹ And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you.” (Genesis 6:18-19)

One of my favorite biblical figures is Noah. His obedience to God and radical faith inspires me. Before a flood ever occurred, He faithfully built an ark to house his family and the creatures meant to survive God washing the land anew. From rest, he believed what God said would come to pass. God fulfilled his word to him, but Noah still played a crucial, active role in seeing it come to pass. He wasn’t passive in resting in what God spoke to Him. He took action. And in doing this, involved His entire family.

Similar to Noah, Moses too trusted God from a place of rest. At each command and direction the Lord spoke to Moses, he choose to press forward. There was hesitation and anxiety at times, but He stayed with the word of the Lord. There is so much power to staying. To continuing to say “yes” even when it doesn’t make sense.

“And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”” (Exodus 33:14)

A prayer for you

Father, thank you for this reader and your beloved child. Would you come near to them this week, as the Prince of Peace? Show them what true rest alongside you looks like. Reveal to their hearts the treasure of resting in your word no matter what. Amen!

Consider these 5 scriptures this week

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-30)