“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:11 God doesn’t just suggest or encourage rest, He commands us to rest (Exodus 20:8–11) and He led by example (Genesis 2:1–3; Exodus 20:11). From the beginning of the word of God we learn that God is not a workaholic. Rather, He leads by example and encourages rest and restoration. When Rest Feels Like Work Rest, for many of us, is exhausting—which is an oxymoron. When we try to find…
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me;he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-4. Praising the Lord at all times is sometimes difficult. Have you ever felt cheated? I have. There are several times in my life that I felt like I deserved better, or deserved a life without pain. When my heart has been overwhelmed, I have asked God, Why? Why is this happening? What is Your purpose in this pain? Why can’t I catch a break? Have you been there? Are you there right now? Life is a constant pursuit of growing closer with the Lord; sometimes it’s soaring like eagles and sometimes it’s going through fiery trials. Regardless of what we are going through, God still deserves to be praised. Some problems are ordained by God. Think of Job’s loss, Joseph’s betrayal, Jonah being swallowed by a whale, and Hannah’s barrenness. Each story is implicitly different, and yet, there is a common thread. God proved His power, sovereignty, and provision in their lives. Life without pain can be…
Life Reflection: What does rest mean to you? What things in your life can steal your peace? God’s Design for Rest: The first time God modeled rest for us was in Genesis 2:2. After creating the heavens and the earth, He rested on the seventh day. That was His example to us—showing the importance of setting aside time to worship, be thankful and renew ourselves afte the daily grind of the week. But rest is more than physical. God also offers us spiritual rest—peace in our spirits and rest for our souls, which can only be found in the Holy Ghost. “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:9-10, NIV) Discussion Point: What is the difference between physical rest and soul rest? The Source of Rest When anxiety, fear or unrest overwhelm us, the book of Psalms offers incredible comfort. Psalm 23 (NKJV) “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea,…
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1. Lately, I have had a deep sense of gratitude for what the Lord has done in my life. Sometimes I forget where God has brought me from. A few weeks ago in a church service, we sang, “When I think about the Lord, how he saved me… it makes me want to shout hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!” I began to weep at the keyboard as I thanked the Lord for completely changing my life around. Where would I…
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16 The shield of faith, along with the other pieces of the armor of God, is vital to our spiritual longevity. This defensive weapon not only shields us from the enemies attack, but it is a weapon of versatility and power. When our flesh or a voice of oppression says, “this is too hard for God.” Faith says, “Nothing is too hard for the Lord.” When the enemy says, “Your family member will never serve God,” faith says, “It’s not God’s will that any should perish, but that all should comes to repentance.” Hebrews 11 records men and women who possessed exemplary faith in God. Keep in mind that what the Lord did in the past, He will do again because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)! By faith according to Hebrews 11: We understand the creation Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice Enoch was translated Noah prepared an ark Abraham went out into an inheritance Sara received strength to conceive Abraham offered up Isaac Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau Jacob blessed the…
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2. We are only one person. Shocking insight, I know, but it’s a good reminder. Have you ever sat amidst other people in a humid room that is void of air conditioning? It is insufferable unless there is a small tripod fan in the corner that is oscillating back and forth, giving you a brief moment of respite when the warm air hits your perspired brow. One fan in a humid room can only do so much among so many people. Multitaskers are like an oscillating fan, trying desperately to meet people’s needs with the assemblage of their talents, aspirations, and abilities. However, people often forget that they are only one person, who can target one thing at a time. Sure, you can give fragments of yourself to ten separate endeavors, but only for a short amount of time before you have to move to something else that is petitioning for your attention. Are you tired of trying to do everything? Laws of Attraction There is a certain law of attraction in the perpetual pursuance of success, accolades, and completed tasks. Is there any thrill…