Stop. Whatever you're doing, whatever you're thinking about. Take a moment right now to be still.
Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God (NIV)
Psalms 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (NIV)
Every day we fill up our schedules with school, work, cleaning, bills, friends, errands, etc. With all the activity sometimes we forget to take time to simply rest in God's presence. To set aside time to be with Him- even if it is just to sit in awe of His majesty.
The word teaches us how important it is for us as Christians to make time for rest. The Lord set aside the seventh day, the Sabbath, specifically for rest. He exemplified this Himself when after 6 days of work creating the Heavens and the Earth, the Lord rested.
Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (NIV)
With the busy lifestyle of the world these days, especially here in America, one could argue that we don't have to follow the law of the Sabbath anymore. "Didn't that die away with the old testament?" "I have so much to do! How am I supposed to fit all that into 6 days?" Well my friends, if the maker of the universe took a day to rest, we are not above it. We are specifically instructed in both the old and new testament of the importance of the Sabbath.
And Jesus made a point to tell us that the Sabbath was created for our own good! In Mark 2:27 he says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath..." (NIV). The Sabbath was designed to help us! We were designed to have time with our Creator.
It is easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of life and let Jesus become an afterthought. When really, we should be so wrapped up in Jesus that the rest of life is an afterthought! We should be Heaven-minded. Of course we will have work to do and troubles to face while we are on this earth, but it's only for so long! When it's done, it's done. There's no going back. And then we will spend the rest of eternity in paradise.
In the meantime, the only rest we can receive from this world is in Jesus. He alone offers us peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Psalms 62:1 I am at rest in God alone (HCSB)
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)
Today, on this Sabbath, take some time to rest in Him. Forget the trouble this world presents and remember the reality of Jesus. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). We don't always have to understand His plans (and most of the time we won't)! We just have to trust that He is good and He always knows what is best for us. Practice taking time on a daily basis just to focus on His reality and His Kingship. To simply be still and know that He is God-- not us. All we have to do is lean on Him.
I will leave off with the lyrics to a song that so perfectly came on when I was writing this.
"None But Jesus" by Hillsong United
In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored
When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’'ll choose
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’'re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore
Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God (NIV)
Psalms 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (NIV)
Every day we fill up our schedules with school, work, cleaning, bills, friends, errands, etc. With all the activity sometimes we forget to take time to simply rest in God's presence. To set aside time to be with Him- even if it is just to sit in awe of His majesty.
The word teaches us how important it is for us as Christians to make time for rest. The Lord set aside the seventh day, the Sabbath, specifically for rest. He exemplified this Himself when after 6 days of work creating the Heavens and the Earth, the Lord rested.
Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (NIV)
With the busy lifestyle of the world these days, especially here in America, one could argue that we don't have to follow the law of the Sabbath anymore. "Didn't that die away with the old testament?" "I have so much to do! How am I supposed to fit all that into 6 days?" Well my friends, if the maker of the universe took a day to rest, we are not above it. We are specifically instructed in both the old and new testament of the importance of the Sabbath.
Hebrews 4:9-11 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. (NIV)
And Jesus made a point to tell us that the Sabbath was created for our own good! In Mark 2:27 he says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath..." (NIV). The Sabbath was designed to help us! We were designed to have time with our Creator.
It is easy to get wrapped up in the busyness of life and let Jesus become an afterthought. When really, we should be so wrapped up in Jesus that the rest of life is an afterthought! We should be Heaven-minded. Of course we will have work to do and troubles to face while we are on this earth, but it's only for so long! When it's done, it's done. There's no going back. And then we will spend the rest of eternity in paradise.
In the meantime, the only rest we can receive from this world is in Jesus. He alone offers us peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Psalms 62:1 I am at rest in God alone (HCSB)
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)
Today, on this Sabbath, take some time to rest in Him. Forget the trouble this world presents and remember the reality of Jesus. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). We don't always have to understand His plans (and most of the time we won't)! We just have to trust that He is good and He always knows what is best for us. Practice taking time on a daily basis just to focus on His reality and His Kingship. To simply be still and know that He is God-- not us. All we have to do is lean on Him.
I will leave off with the lyrics to a song that so perfectly came on when I was writing this.
"None But Jesus" by Hillsong United
In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored
When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’'ll choose
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’'re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore
Firstly, I agree 100%!! What a wonderful reminder. Thank you so much for this.
ReplyDeleteSecondly I couldn't help but be reminded of a Chris Tomlin classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU4U8_wMdRs
When I was born again this song was very much "in vogue" at the time, and brought me to tears every time I heard it. Just a little funny story that I thought you'd enjoy!
Love you and I'm loving every post in this blog!
Haven't heard or thought about that song in forever!! THROWBACK. Thanks for sharing and reminding me of it! Perfect for the topic.
DeleteAlso thank you for reading and for all your support! Appreciate it so much. Love you more!