When we get motivated about something, we can drive ourselves towards the fullest in accomplishing these goals. When determination sets in we are focused. But in between those moments don’t forget to rest. I am not speaking of sleep rest but resting in the LORD.
Before Jesus started the day of performing signs, miracles, and wonders; before the day began in teaching God’s people, He always took the time to begin His day with His Father.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:35 KJV
Jesus shows us the importance of spending alone time and communing with our Father in Heaven. We can get so caught up in the day-to-day activities that we forget to make the time to spend time with our Heavenly Father. Jesus never esteemed Himself to be equal to God, though being in the form of God yet humbled Himself or emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant in the likeness of man. Jesus’s actions remind me that I too should do my best to make it a priority to take the time to be alone with God intentionally. I should allow that time of resting in Him, emptying myself from self so that He may effectively prepare me for the day.
God’s promise of rest creates a balance which is a key essential to our lives, and the enemy knows it, so he looks for ways to wear us down through distraction’s that cause mental exhaustion. We have those moments when distractions come our way. If we are not careful, it is this type of interference that causes us to grow weary and fog our minds.
Note: distractions can create mental exhaustion and missed opportunities.
God doesn’t want us to have mental exhaustion. Therefore, His word gives us a strategy on how to keep mental fatigue from happening by entering His rest. Remember, a moment in God’s presence can change everything.
So, how do we enter God's rest and what are the effects?
Before I share with you what He has given to me, I wanted to show you a description of how Jesus Christ meets our need when we get in the presence of entering God's rest.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”
Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
How refreshing is that? I love Psalms 23. The Psalmist tells us that Jesus Christ our Shepard leads us to waters of quietness which cause our way of thinking to be transformed in Him with the trusting assurance that He is there right next to us, guiding us in full control even during the times we think are uncertain or troublesome. And in the midst of all of that, He prepares us for an abundance of His blessings right before of our adversaries in where His strength overflows from within us and out of us because of His loving kindness that follows us all the days of our lives. Amazing right?
But how do we get to that resting state? How do we find that strength? How do we allow Him to recondition our mind back to clarity and tranquility? It starts with the word of God. His word discovers our condition and then restores our thinking back to Him. So take courage, no matter what distraction the enemy tries to throw at you whether it be in the mindset of your thinking, or your health, your home, your marriage, your workplace or your finances, Jesus Christ can draw you out from the chaos and set you in a realm where confusion doesn’t exist because of who He is. He intentionally removes those distractions from our thinking so that we may not miss His open doors of opportunities and His blessings.
“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”
Exodus 33:14, 19
Resting in the LORD is my defense mechanism of allowing God to defend me daily because His word says He goes before me in all matters of my life so that in those moments I feel like is too chaotic or distracting I know and trust that God is still in full control. Because of His secure faithfulness, He will bring that thing to pass in what concerns me. Resting in the LORD also restrains the flesh so that the mind may not focus on distractions but change the outlook that is weighted on God’s goodness of what’s advantageous to our lives.
Getting quiet before God and spending time with Him allows TRUST to settle our mind and it brings divine strength directly from the Lord to us, but God says many of us choose not to do it.
“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not,”
Isaiah 30:15 NKJV
God wants to draw us near to Him if we took the time to quiet our mind before Him. This drawing near is described as a high place a supernatural realm of where Spirit to spirit communion happens. God wants to commune with you, He wants those noisome pestilences of distractions to stop too, and He wants to refresh your mind.
Notice the scriptures presented in this message are continually using the words “rest” and “wait” these two terms both mean to get still; quieting the mind in where we can come to terms of feeling mentally or Spiritually refreshed (Baker, W., & Zodhiates, S. 2008 p.1813 & 2063).
God has shown me in order for Him to get my mind mentally refreshed, to be perceptually functional with full discernment I got to make the time for Him other wise I notice when I don’t I can be a hot mess, easily distracted, and inattentive.
For God to recondition our mind back to Him, we have to find a place or create a physical space where we will not be disturbed, a place of serenity where you can have your alone time with Him in peace. Read His word full of faith so that you form positive expectations from Him because Hebrew 4:12 says for the word that God speaks is alive and full of power, making it active, operative, energizing, and effective.
My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”
Psalms 62:1-2, 5-8 NKJV
So if you’re wanting to regain His strength in your life, it comes from being still and trusting Him with it. When we continually show Him these actions God takes over and moves. On His behalf, He fights for us whether it be battles that arise from situations and circumstance or whether it be Him moving towards providing that provision for your vision to be operative, whatever it is, He moves on our behalf because we got still. We trusted. And we know that God is in control.
I want to encourage you to take the time to get quiet and still before the LORD and by faith let God be God. Let Him fight your battles so that you may have the renewed strength to do what He has called you to do. Let Him refresh your mind so that you are not drawn to distractions but made fully aware of opportunities that are presented before you. You see, God has prepared a table of His rich blessings for you right in front of your adversaries who have been creating all those distractions and chaos in your life. God is ready to give you a fresh anointing towards your calling if you would choose to enter His rest. That fresh anointing only comes from God and God alone. And when the strength of His anointing comes upon you, you no longer become equal in favor to everyone else. Understand, God’s favor is the same for all of His people, but His anointing is not. That fresh anointing is what‘s going to make you stand out from the rest where scriptures decree, your cup runs over. And that‘s that anointing people see, and people feel within when you are around them, and they say “that woman there, gots the presence of the Spirit of the LORD upon her.” Take the time to rest in Him so that He may give you the balance you need for your life, so that He may give you His strength that allows you to bear His fruit and His richness in Christ Jesus. God bless ❤️
Remember to subscribe.
I would like to hear your feedback, feel free to comment below or send me a message through the chat inbox.
If you like it, ❤️it
If this message encouraged you, share it🤗
References:
Baker, W., & Zodhiates, S. (2008). Old and New Testament Dictionary. In The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
Text2Pic. (2017, October 10). Retrieved from http://text2picapp.com.