So here is what the Lord has been reminding me of this morning, maybe it will minister to you as well...Rest is a weapon against the enemy! There is an entering into, a pressing into His rest.
Really, the only way we can rest is if we know in our hearts & in our spirits that God is truly in control...period. We can only rest in His sovereignty when we are secure in His love. We know in our heads that "God so love the world..." but do we really know and believe that He loves me...NOW! not when I finally get my act together. He loves you and me individually! His heart is bent tenderly towards us.
This LOVE thing is something so powerful! I heard a message by Bill Johnson where he said that he takes time often to bask in the love of the Lord. He sits down in a chair (or where ever) and just says, "OK Lord, I just open myself up to receive your love." He says that he doesn't pray or talk to the Lord. He just uses that time to receive the love of Jesus. I started doing this and man is it hard!! I would hear sweet things from His heart. At first I found it hard to sit and listen to sweetness about me. I told the Lord, don't you want to tell me to pray for China or go do something for someone. I felt the Lord tell me that I first had to be settled in His love to be affective in His work. The more I have just listened to His sweet heart towards me, the more settled I am becoming, the more trust is building up and I see a new level of compassion for others.
So rest is a weapon against the enemy. The joy of the Lord is our strength and in His presence is fullness of joy.
Have a day of rejoicing in His goodness & kindness and bask in His love.
Karise
5 comments:
This is SO GOOD mom!! I was encouraged reading this even though I know I've heard it from you before. Such a good reminder. :)
Wow..how wonderful to wake up to a refreshing message and reminder.Thanks so much! The area of "rest" is one that God has been working on in me for a while. But it seems like every church, conference, meeting, prayer group, ladies retreat or whatever....it is always that message for me..."Be still (fill in your name) and know that I am God." We get so caught up in "doing" for Him, that we loose time for just "being" with him.... Letting him love us into doing through His strength.
Hey Cathy Lee,
How sweet it has been to see you and your family grow. The girls were little when we first me, and we were pretty "young" too. They are becoming such sweet young ladies....I know that sounds sappy but it is true. You guys have done a wonderful job!!
Thank you, Karise! I still remember when Emily was just a spunky 13er, and now she is a beautiful young woman. I just remember how full of life all of you were, when you came PCC. You were all a breath of fresh air, and I loved you at once!
The joy of the Lord is our strength, and it is birthed into me through his Holy Spirit working me to do and to will as He would do. But as you so well described "rest", it can only happen when I am resisting the whole busyness and doing, and instead resting and just being in Him. It has taken me a while to finally get this. ha! And I still fall back into the doing mode, insead of the just "being." Thanks for the reminder....I may need it constantly! lol
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