Glimpses of God's Heart~ Rest
Rest
Rest is a wonderful word!
What do you think of when you think about rest?
In the summer you may think about beach days, toasting in the hot summer sun, as waves gently lap against the shore.
Or, in this season, you may dream of a comfy chair, a good book and an open fire.
I can picture the scene, snuggling under my favourite blanket and watching the flames dance in the fireplace, as I mull over the words, that I just read.
Pure bliss,
Rest is wonderful.
Rest is a major theme in the bible!
It begins in Genesis, on the seventh day God rested and He commanded us to rest also.
Even the ground is to rest, every seven years.
Rest in the bible is a big deal.
Jesus said, " Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. "
I've read, that this passage describes the heart of Jesus.
Our redeemer, with arms outstretched, saying,
" Come to me... Come on.... What are you waiting for?
I am He.
I can give you everything you need, and you need me, you need rest. "
This rest is not to regain your strength, but to be still, and to cease from activity to get close to God.
It is not just a rest from work but an opportunity to; Refocus, Reflect, Reconnect, Recentre & Restart.
It's a day to delight in our saviour, to practice the pause and ponder His magnificence.
Refocus
Rest is a time to shift your focus, from the everyday to the eternal.
There is a beautiful old chorus, that I absolutely adore.
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace......"
Rest and refocus, turn to Jesus and ponder His perfection!
Reflect
Meditate on the word of God.
Turn to the book, not Facebook!
" May your unfailing love come to me Lord, your salvation, according to your promise. "
Psalm 119 v 41
" Only to sit and think of God,
Oh what a joy it is!
To think the thought,
To breath the name.
Earth has no higher bliss. "
Frederick Faber
Reconnect
Reconnect with God, rest in Him.
Rest is a wonderful opportunity to spend time in His presence, to linger longer and bask in His glory.
Rather than snatch a quick moment with Him before going about your day.
Our God is a God of relationship!
In the Garden of Eden, God walked and talked with His beloved children.
Remember God longs for your presence, so much more than we ever long for His.
Let our hearts rest in His presence.
" This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence. "
1 John 3 v 19
Recentre
" Return to your rest, oh my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. "
Psalm 116 v 7
Isn't it wonderful that we don't have to worry about anything?
We can just relax, and fall into the ever loving arms of Jesus. He' s got this! He' s got you!
Check out Matthew 6 v 25
There is nothing in the entire universe He doesn't care about.
That God cares for us, as a father cares for a child is a profound source of peace.
Peace, perfect peace is the gift our Father most wants to give to us.
Not surprising, it is the gift that the enemy most wants to steal!
To snatch away our joy, our confidence in who we are, and whose we are.
To steal our identity and our eternity!
" You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. "
Isaiah 26 v 3
" And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. "
Philippians 4 v 7.
Rest, recentre and practice peace.
Reset
How is your faith?
Is it time for a reset?
Faith dwells in what God has done.
In believing in His precious promises.
Believers don't need 7 keys to success or 10 steps to happiness.
They only need 1, to trust in the Lord!
Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4 mentions rest, ten times, but Hebrews 4 tells us that, there is a real danger of never entering the promised land, and never entering into the Lords rest.
" How shall we escape, if we neglect such a great salvation? " Hebrews 2 v 3
The mighty hand of God saved the Israelites from slavery, parted the Red Sea, and yet they still hardened their hearts and murmured against Him.
Anxiety, overwhelms trust!
The Israelites began to focus on themselves and not the greatness of God.
They longed to go back to the security of slavery, rather than trusting God.
This world has no security to offer us!
God is our eternal hope, our refuge in times of trouble, our ever loving, huge hearted, all forgiving, and everlasting Father and He will never, ever let us down!
"There is only one thing to fear in this world!
Not believing in the promises which make you fearless." John Piper
Gods promises are solid, timeless, and endless.
The great prophets died, before they saw the fulfilment of Gods promises to them!
You could literally die, but God would never ever break His promises to you.
He is faithful, He is never ending love and faithfulness.
Let Gods promises shine on your problems and rest.
Rest in the finished work of the cross.
Jesus died to make you fearless!
In every moment you can depend on Him for everything.
So well written Dawn ❤️❤️
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