Here's a brief article written for the church newsletter. Feel free to critique, leave feedback, please. I hope you enjoy!
In today’s times, it’s imperative that the child of God finds and enters the spiritual and natural rest that our Heavenly Father has intended. We need God’s strength since we are made perfect in our weakness due to the indwelling power of God, as indicated in II Corinthians 12:9. But also, resting in God is a required act of faith and love. When we trust in God, we exchange our faith to gain His promise, and we will have and gain true rest. More importantly, we allow God to do a work within us that was predestinated before the foundations of the world. Yet, all God wants and requires from us is to release all of our cares upon Him and simply walk in obedience.
One reason why rest is a requirement of the child of God is because of the incredible infectious nature of rest. Beyond the obvious physical benefits of being at rest are the spiritual benefits, to the believer and even more so the unbeliever. When an unbeliever sees the various strife and challenges of everyday life not affecting you, it automatically releases an interest and desire to find out more about who you are, and who and what you believe in. Hence your life, even without saying a physical word about the goodness of Jesus, automatically and undeniably becomes a true living testimony. Whether or not they know it initially, the world sees the effects of the love and healing power of Jesus Christ. A beckon to gain more from life will be felt when family members who know your past mistakes see changes in you; when they realize that the past has less and less affect on you. When everyday people see you walking in healing and faith released to you from the most High, it stirs something up inside of them. Even if they don’t know it then, you’re making a difference in their lives. With the heartache, brokenness, and frailty in the world today, this is merely one simple example of how no matter the circumstance, the goodness of Jesus shines through us, when we just rest and trust in Him.
Ironically, another benefit of resting in God is that the believer is truly at his or her strongest. We are stronger when we allow God to work through false accusations coming against us, since there’s no real need to fret. God knows who you are and your heart and He has the power to defeat the lie when you choose to rest and live His truths. When bills rise up, God will not only give you insight on how to budget and plan your finances, but He will release supernatural favor in your time of dire need. When sickness comes against your body, He said by His stripes you are indeed healed. Finally, the same healing power that Jesus has is indelibly given to you by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
In all of these instances, all that is required of the believer is to follow a basic chain of three events. One, remember and know that you are indeed a child of God. The same Jesus Christ that was crucified and rose again, knows you and everything about you beyond a first name basis. Know what benefits are attached to your birthright by studying and meditating on the word of God, and on His divine promises to you. Two, have faith and know that God will not leave or forsake His own, since His love extends beyond our comprehension. Finally, step three, remember that when we walk in obedience in accordance to His word, we activate the comforting, empowering and indwelling Holy Spirit. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are constantly connected and reminded of the goodness of God, and are empowered to change and uplift the situations that surround us. When we release all of our cares upon Him, our faith is activated, and God is allowed to go to work in our lives through His power, love, grace and favor that is bestowed to the believer. It is the activated power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus intends for us to use to do even greater works than He did.
When we rest in God, we walk in the promise that God is who He says He is. From the moment we accept Jesus’ sacrifice, God releases the ability to truly rest in this life and the next. He extends a promise to always be there for us time and again, with abundance. But it’s up to us to have faith, which enables us and empowers us to change a generation and a world that desperately needs the help of its creator and savior.
Recommended reading: II Corinthians Ch. 12; Hebrews Ch. 4.
Take Rest in Me
One reason why rest is a requirement of the child of God is because of the incredible infectious nature of rest. Beyond the obvious physical benefits of being at rest are the spiritual benefits, to the believer and even more so the unbeliever. When an unbeliever sees the various strife and challenges of everyday life not affecting you, it automatically releases an interest and desire to find out more about who you are, and who and what you believe in. Hence your life, even without saying a physical word about the goodness of Jesus, automatically and undeniably becomes a true living testimony. Whether or not they know it initially, the world sees the effects of the love and healing power of Jesus Christ. A beckon to gain more from life will be felt when family members who know your past mistakes see changes in you; when they realize that the past has less and less affect on you. When everyday people see you walking in healing and faith released to you from the most High, it stirs something up inside of them. Even if they don’t know it then, you’re making a difference in their lives. With the heartache, brokenness, and frailty in the world today, this is merely one simple example of how no matter the circumstance, the goodness of Jesus shines through us, when we just rest and trust in Him.
Ironically, another benefit of resting in God is that the believer is truly at his or her strongest. We are stronger when we allow God to work through false accusations coming against us, since there’s no real need to fret. God knows who you are and your heart and He has the power to defeat the lie when you choose to rest and live His truths. When bills rise up, God will not only give you insight on how to budget and plan your finances, but He will release supernatural favor in your time of dire need. When sickness comes against your body, He said by His stripes you are indeed healed. Finally, the same healing power that Jesus has is indelibly given to you by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
In all of these instances, all that is required of the believer is to follow a basic chain of three events. One, remember and know that you are indeed a child of God. The same Jesus Christ that was crucified and rose again, knows you and everything about you beyond a first name basis. Know what benefits are attached to your birthright by studying and meditating on the word of God, and on His divine promises to you. Two, have faith and know that God will not leave or forsake His own, since His love extends beyond our comprehension. Finally, step three, remember that when we walk in obedience in accordance to His word, we activate the comforting, empowering and indwelling Holy Spirit. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are constantly connected and reminded of the goodness of God, and are empowered to change and uplift the situations that surround us. When we release all of our cares upon Him, our faith is activated, and God is allowed to go to work in our lives through His power, love, grace and favor that is bestowed to the believer. It is the activated power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus intends for us to use to do even greater works than He did.
When we rest in God, we walk in the promise that God is who He says He is. From the moment we accept Jesus’ sacrifice, God releases the ability to truly rest in this life and the next. He extends a promise to always be there for us time and again, with abundance. But it’s up to us to have faith, which enables us and empowers us to change a generation and a world that desperately needs the help of its creator and savior.
Recommended reading: II Corinthians Ch. 12; Hebrews Ch. 4.
