Our Rest
Genesis 2:1-2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which he had made.
God intended for us to get OUR REST. What robs you of your rest? Here are some Rest Wreckers…
1) Fear Anxiety often causes us to magnify our problems. David overcame his battle of fear by relying on God’s power and protection. Read Psalm 27 to learn more of how David relied on the Lord. Also Psalm 3:1-8
2) Guilt Guilt lies hidden beneath the surface, festering and irritating us. Sometimes it is so deeply embedded you may not even know the cause. If we are not trusting in Christ, guilt is God’s warning system to show us our need for forgiveness. If our own conscience condemns us, should we not be more concerned about God’s judgment? We can find rest from a troubled conscience through the shed blood of Christ which purifies us from all sin. Read 1 John 3:11-24.
3) Worry Fear and worry are related. Worry is what happens when fear focuses on the future and things that might happen. Some of what we worry about is worthy of concern. But the savior assures us that we do not need to be anxious even about vital matters for human survival because we have a heavenly Father who knows what we need. When we grow anxious we lose sight of God. Read Matthew 6:25-34
4) Busyness Sometimes we may use busyness to make us feel better about ourselves, perhaps a hedge against emptiness. Surely our life has meaning if we are so busy, completely booked, and in demand every hour of the day. Busyness may even give us the illusion of being indispensable. If we volunteer with a smile, but serve with a grimace, our service will not give us a sense of joy, but may even make us angry. Resentment can be an early warning sign that we are making wrong choices and prefer busyness over being in Christ’s presence. Read Luke 10:38-42
5) Impatience We have heard that patience is a virtue, but impatience might be a national trait. How long do we wait before we honk our horn when the driver ahead of us does not move when the light turns green or how long are we willing to wait at a restaurant for a table? We often grow impatient when God does not act according to our timetable. He will act in His own time and in His own way. Do we spend enough time thanking Him for His goodness? Read
1 Samuel 13:1-15.
Susie Crites RN
Reference, Moody Bible Institute’s Today in the Word
