Friday Fight 152: Essential REST

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF152.

How often are we asked about our day, and our frequent response is a typical reference to being tired? We may take a day or even an afternoon, with our only agenda being relaxation. Yet, we still feel exhausted and maybe a bit more overwhelmed than before. We enjoy life and all that God has given us, but deep in our souls, we still crave a rest that seems unattainable. Why do we often feel we need more rest and how does this affect our spiritual lives?

Essential REST:

So often, in the turmoil or busyness of our day, we long for rest. For some, this could resemble lounging at the beach or beside the pool, doing absolutely nothing but enjoying God's creation. It could also be taking a nap or reading a new book. Whatever the case, feeling rested or unrested may not be what we think. It is not necessarily achieved by our own means. Psalm 23:2 says,”He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”

Let's begin our journey to rest from a spiritual perspective. Yes, we all need sleep and to refocus our mind and body with time set apart from others. But God is an endless source of strength, and His glory can be seen in all directions among His creation's intricate complexities and delicate balance. We can see His creative love and have heard the marvelous story of salvation. We experience the power of God's love in our daily lives, yet many of us still feel unrested. What we call rest is not rest; relaxation is not relaxation. Rest is not doing whatever we want and expecting the benefits to make us feel any particular way. Unfortunately, it takes us time and lessons to understand that rest is not doing what we want to do; it is doing what God asks of us and commands us in His word.

Genuine rest is seeking God first and following His will. When we do, the day's joy is placed before us each morning as we accept His new mercies. Rather than taking a day to lounge on the couch and scroll on our phones to escape our problems, let's seek God, who gives us the rest we so long for amid life’s strife, labor, or trials. This is the rest He intended for us.

Rest is not escaping to a place without noise but being in perfect harmony with God and the Holy Spirit, graciously given to us. Yes, we can rest by the ocean or relax by the pool, but true rest, a rest that quiets and renews, the soul, will lead us to pools of quiet water even amid man-made turmoil. Rest is of God and we can make the most of each day by filling it with His presence. Rest in the quiet waters of His peace and in this message.

Pastor Shannon

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