Friday Fight 83 - REST: Restoring Every Spiritual Trial

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF83.

How often have we been asked how we are doing, and we smile and reply with pleasantries? We may be physically tired and need sleep or mentally exhausted and need to disconnect from people and things. But what happens when we are spiritually weary, and what does resting look like in this area?

REST: Restoring Every Spiritual Trial

When we think of the word REST, we think of doing nothing, a day off work, vacationing, sleeping more, or even reading a book. Some of us nap, go to bed early or take a walk. For mental rest, we might enjoy the gym, a bath, fishing, or anything that doesn't involve cognitive processing. My sisters and I enjoy the sounds of crashing waves regardless of the weather. But what does it mean to delight in spiritual rest?

I was talking to a spiritual sister at work; she felt God wanted me to rest because of some recently canceled trips. Since her statement immediately resonated with me, I spent the rest of my break praying. Through prayer, I felt God was placing on my heart that He was restoring every spiritual trial I had endured over the six months.

What does it mean to rest spiritually? Maybe we envision being tired of the church or praying with and for others, but not so! Spiritual rest means placing all that we have endured in the arms of our Heavenly Father and allowing Him to fight on our behalf while we rest in Him. Just as physical rest means more sleep or mental rest a day at the spa, spiritual rest is our reflection in focusing on God. But, instead of a day at the spa, it is a day with God. Spiritual rest is when we burrow ourselves in the Bible and intentionally claim our assurances in God and His promises. We make it a point to let go of everything not of God and allow any dry bones to awaken. We allow God to restore all the beautiful parts of our souls that darkness stole. Our trials build trust, our hurts become habits of surrender, and we allow ourselves to be consumed by God's grace and love.

Darkness does not want us to rest; instead, to busy ourselves (Buried Under Satan's Yoke). The enemy of our souls does not want us to spend more time with God, allowing Him to restore every spiritual trial; he wants the opposite.

As we have trusted God through every trial in His faithfulness, we welcome them as we continually focus on our eternal blessings. There is purpose in our hardships, so rather than wanting to avoid them, let's seek God through them and rest in Him afterward. This spiritual rest enables our spiritual growth. We are to remain steadfast under trial. In doing so, we will receive the crown of life.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert