Recently, I have been thinking about something God once told me many years ago.
I was walking on the beach in Boca Grande, Florida. My absolute favorite place to visit, some days my soul longs for that place.
It was very early in the morning; I was alone on the beach. I could feel the warm sand between my toes. I closed my eyes as I took in the sound of the waves crashing softly around me. The crabs were scuttering across the sand, disappearing into their little holes. As I slowly walked along the edges of the beach, the warm water washed over my bare feet with each wave. It was perfect…and it was quiet.
The only sounds I heard where the waves and the silence. In that silence God began to speak to me. Actually, He asked me a question.
“Do you know what the highest form of faith is?”
I continued walking, I didn’t dare respond. I knew the answer was forthcoming.
His next words were, “Rest.”
Rest is an important part of our spiritual life. It allows our minds, bodies, and souls to become renewed and strengthened.
Throughout the Word of God, we find scripture after scripture about rest.
God said -“the highest form of faith is rest”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
This verse teaches us to learn from Jesus. Do things the way He did them…gently and humbly and we will experience His rest.
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14
Wherever the presence of God is, there is rest. In His presence is fullness of joy, peace, total contentment…and rest.
“In returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
“Stand by the roads and look, ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16
Finally, one I pray over myself and my family…
“But now, the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.” 1 Kings 5:4
God wants His children to be at rest. He wants us to experience rest on every side. His Word shows us the way to do just that.
In the world today, rest is a precious commodity. Wars, gas prices, job losses, death and so much more is demanding our attention. Not only our attention, but our finances and our peace. It is a battle to stay in a place of rest during this season. Yet, God has promised a rest remains for us, the people of God. Currently, many people are struggling to enter into that rest…God’s rest. I can agree, with the chaos in the world it is hard to consistently enter into rest – hard but not impossible. A couple years ago, God spoke to me and said, “Sabbath will be vital for you this year.”
What was He saying?
He was telling me it would be necessary for me to set aside quiet times of rest in God, as well as times of physical rest. We all need rest after the years of turmoil we have walked through. We must sabbath. We must take time to simply rest in His presence. To refresh and renew our soul. We must also make time to give our physical bodies rest. We can’t move forward effectively without rest.
It is my prayer today that you find rest for your soul. That you enter into a time of rest on every side. It is the highest form of faith – trusting in God enough to rest, regardless of the season we find ourselves in. May you find rest today, in God alone.
Appoint My Days
My spirit is strong, my emotions are settled, my mind is sharp, and my body is healed. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I am like a tree planted by the rivers of water which bears fruit in my season. My leaves do not wither and whatsoever I do prospers. My steps are ordered by the Lord today and I declare the end from the beginning, in Jesus’ Name.
I Peter 5:10, John 14:27, Ephesians 6:10, Psalm 37:23, Psalm 1:3, Isaiah 46:10
