The Rest You Need is Found in Christ

by rebekahbeene

When we arrived home from our Memorial Day week-end we were tired. I mean bone tired. I’m talking almost can’t stay awake to drive home tired. We made it. We were blessed all week-end but what we did took a lot out of us. 

We made it home late Sunday night so that we would have Monday to recover. If recovery means napping off and on all day then we surely did recover. 

Jesus must have had tired moments. As He looked out across Jerusalem and wept. He knew how they lived was lower living than God’s plan. As He sat on the Mount of Olives and attempted to teach His disciples about the Kingdom. He saw how easily they were distracted. As He rode into Jerusalem on the donkey, although he was met with such a wonderful response, He knew that in just a few short days the crowd would turn ugly. As He walked up Golgotha, bearing the burden of the cross and the sins of all mankind, His body was already worn out from being whipped, beaten and humiliated. Jesus knew what it was like to be tired.

Yet Jesus encourages us all “I will give you rest.” How was He able to give rest even though He had tired moments Himself? Could it be that He had a strength beyond the flesh? Can we have that same strength?

God speaks to my heart. You may do so many good things. But good things are no substitute for My inspiration and your obedience. Good can be a great betrayer and deceiver especially when you get so very busy. My ways bring peace, deliver comfort and promise rest. If you are feeling frazzled, stop for a moment in My presence and let Me give you real rest. You don’t need more money, more time, more energy or more things. You just need Me. 

Oh beloved, whatever it is that you are beating yourself up to get done, maybe it’s time to sit for a moment at the Father’s feet. Look at Jesus and contemplate His Words and take them in for yourself. Through Christ, you have been given all the resources for Kingdom living and Kingdom purpose. 

God loves you and He’s for you. Rest in those promises and find your renewed energy abounding.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 

Psalm 136:23 He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.

john 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He [Jesus] said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” NIV

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. (Amplified)

Burdened with the Stuff of Life?

Something Joyce Meyer said reminded me of the movie “A Christmas Story”. The younger brother said very little, if anything, but his actions spoke volumes.  My favorite scene of him was the falling into the snow. He was unable to get up because mother had loaded him down with layers of clothes. He couldn’t move! He couldn’t even use his arms to push himself up.  Bless his heart, for his mother cared so much for him that she wanted every inch of him to stay warm in those cold blustery northern winters.

Joyce simply quoted “cast all your cares on the Lord…”  Suddenly I’m transported to the boy with all the layers. And his inability to move because he was burdened so with stuff.

Imagine the delight of this boy as he returns home and begins to unclothe all that stuff. Layer after layer is removed and surely mother is there taking each piece in her hands and helping him get shuck of it all. As each layer is taken off, he feels lighter and lighter.  Finally, he’s cast off all his load and he can breathe and move freely!

Are you burdened with the stuff of life today? Have you tried to cover and heap on yourself things to make it all better and yet it’s becoming more of a burden than a help?  Are you wearing revenge, animosity, unforgiveness, punishment, worry, fear, anxiety? Have you found that you are unable to move freely in the gifts and callings God has on your life? Maybe you thought that religious works would make you free, but it’s now got you bound and gagged.  It could be that others have overloaded you down – telling you that you are unworthy, unlovely or more. Lies are a heavy burden to carry, but we do when we believe them.

Oh beloved, cast all your cares on the Lord this morning! He will lovingly take each one and never give them back. He will help you discard that which He never meant you to wear. He will not only take your burdens, He will offer you His yoke instead, for He is always gentle and humble at heart concerning you. He loves you and He calls you beloved as He whispers His blessings into your life. Let go of those things that keep you bound and be free in Christ! It’s the only way to live free!

Isaiah 28:12 God has told his people, "Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest." But they would not listen.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

I Peter 5:7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Amplified

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Worn Out Getting Ready for the Day? Rest in Him!

Wow, just a few more days till Christmas!  If you’re like me, there are still quite a few things to do to get ready for the day.  I keep thinking I need to add an arrangement to a table, an ornament to the tree, a package underneath or another string of lights outside.  Most of us, if truth be told, have lots more Christmas ideas than days left to accomplish them!  I find that right about now, I begin to lose ground between my ideas and plans and daylight hours. I also find that I am getting tired.  It’s a hustle bustle world out there and if we’re not careful, we can get too busy to remember what Christmas is really about.    

Mary and Joseph spent the night in the stable because there was no room in the inn. Because it was one of those hustle bustle times around Jerusalem, the big tax season, there were a lot of people in town. Everyone was busy, some were worrying about paying their taxes, others were worried about seeing the right people and having the right connections. Joseph was worried about Mary and Mary was thinking about her unborn child.

For us, we can scarcely imagine giving birth, delivering our baby, in a barn! The germs, the animals, the hay, the unsanitary conditions! We would be fretting to say the least. We’d be demanding something better. Yet Mary wasn’t fretting or worrying about the situation.  Why? How could she stand it?

Because Mary had already spent time with God, she knew He could be trusted. She knew that even if things looked dreary, dim and dark, that He would be there for her.  Not only had an Angel of the Lord, spoken with her, she had listened! The Word said, “she pondered all these things”. 

Oh beloved! This morning as you wipe the sleep from your eyes and your recount all the things yet to be done, won’t you stop a moment and listen? Listen closely, for amid the sounds of so much rushing and doing and planning there is Someone trying to speak songs of love and truth to your heart! He is the way and as you put your trust in Him, you will find favor! The Lord Himself says to you this morning, Rest in My promises, for each one of them are for your good and My glory! Rest in My care for I AM the one who brought you this far and will care for you all the way to heaven. You cannot trust circumstances, but you can trust Me. You cannot trust yourself, but you can believe that I AM all you need for this holiday, for the holy occasion. As you celebrate so busily, don’t forget to celebrate Me! For I AM the fount of living water, the Redeemer of your heart, the Restorer of your soul and the One Who loves you beyond your wildest hopes and dreams! And if I love you, I will surely be for you always.

Luke 1:30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!

Matthew 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Psalm 27:8  My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

Psalm 31:16  Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me.

Psalm 139:17-18 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me!

Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

True Rest is Found in Christ.

It’s the week of the big move for one of our daughters and her family.  They didn’t have all their things moved the other night, so they stayed over with us. That night Blakely woke up disoriented and frustrated. When I got him a drink of milk and tried to take him back to our bed, he said “I want to sleep in my own bed”.  I thought it was cute and was going to take him to the extra room but he went back into my room. He refused to get in the bed though, and slept on the floor for a couple of hours. The next morning his mother told me she had asked him to lay down and that they would pick him up and put him in the new bed. He had gone to bed thinking he would wake up in his new room so he was of course disappointed.

No one wants to go to bed thinking something wonderful is going to happen only to wake up to disappointment, discouragement or a severe change of plans. While the adjustment can be hard, the Lord ultimately has good plans for you.

Oh beloved, is your mind reeling this morning?  Are the circumstances you are waking up to beyond your control? Maybe your heart is broken or your feelings are hurt.  You had a plan. You felt good. Things were looking up. You’d like to refuse to move on.  Never fear! Though your outward circumstances can change in an instant, your inward state of mind can remain steadfast, peaceful and calm.   Rejoice as you run to His Word and see that all He asks is for you to follow Him. That is where True Rest is found! He loves you and He has promised to be with you all the days of your life.

 

I Peter 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation!

Psalm 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 138:8  The LORD will work out His plans for my life— for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.

Psalm 112:17 They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

Hebrews 6:19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.