Rest. Are you there yet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is rest? Webster\u2019s extensive definition includes this: freedom from activity or labor; peace of mind or spirit; free of anxieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s what<\/em> rest\nis in the spiritual life. Jesus spoke powerful words about rest. \u201cCome unto me,\nall ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke\nupon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find\nrest unto your souls\u201d (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s where<\/em> it\nis. Rest is not a place\u2014it\u2019s a Person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So how do we live in rest? In this insane world that seems to have exploded out of control, how do we live in rest? Jesus explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Come\u2026and I will give you rest. It\u2019s a gift, not an\nattainment. Our part: take my yoke upon you and learn of me. That\u2019s how<\/em> we live in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simple enough. But I struggled much to understand this\nconcept. Real life is rarely peaceful. Wars rage throughout the world. But our\npersonal lives are also torn by conflict and unrest<\/em>\u2014disturbed or uneasy state, turmoil (according to Webster).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember the event that launched my search for rest. The\nLord had given me the privilege of walking with a friend through a difficult\nlife-chapter. We talked often, and she shared her heartbreak and the comfort God\nhad given. I\u2019d offer Scriptures and comments to encourage her to keep trusting\nGod\u2019s promises. One day after relating a hurtful incident, she said, \u201cI put it\nin God\u2019s hands and I have my peace back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whoa! The student had\nlearned the lesson better than the teacher!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n My mouth gushed encouraging words, but my heart hadn\u2019t truly found rest. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n My mouth gushed encouraging words, but my heart hadn\u2019t truly found rest. These words came to mind. \u201cIf any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him\u201d (James 1:5 KJV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I cried out to the Lord. Teach me to rest! <\/em>Like many others, I want answers at lightning speed. Slowly over time, he taught me three truths that lead to rest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll talk more about that later, but these verses began to\nsettle my restless heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCommit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of\nyour load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and\nHe will bring it to pass\u201d (Psalm 37:5 Amplified).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBe still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently\nlean yourself upon Him\u2026\u201d (Psalm 37:7 Amplified).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have set the Lord continually before me; because he is at\nmy right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory\n(my inner self) rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in\nsafety\u201d (Psalm 16:11-12 Amplified).<\/p>\n\n\n\nFocus determines rest. If I focus on circumstances, the result is unrest. If I focus on God\u2019s promises, I have rest. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n Hard-learned truth: focus determines rest. If I focus on circumstances, the result is unrest. If I focus on God\u2019s promises, I have rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you there yet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had much more to learn about rest so we\u2019ll continue the\ndiscussion next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please tell me where you are in this journey to rest. And I\u2019d\nbe grateful if you\u2019d share this with\nyour friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Dianne Barker 2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rest. Are you there yet? What is rest? Webster\u2019s extensive definition includes this: freedom from activity or labor; peace of mind or spirit; free of anxieties. That\u2019s what rest is in the spiritual life. Jesus spoke powerful words about rest. \u201cCome unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,347,346,349],"class_list":["post-956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-dianne-barker","tag-matthew-1128-30","tag-what-is-restwhere-is-it-and-how-do-i-live-in-it","tag-wisdom"],"yoast_head":"\n