Actively... rest.

 

Lets just jump right into it… I have been wrestling with the "rest" of God. I have found myself this year journeying to “rest” in God’s unending and (as I like to say) scandalous grace. But, over the past little bit it feels like the Lord has been asking me “what does resting in me really mean practically in your life?” As I started to answer this question in my own heart, I realized that I think that I have had the whole “resting in Him” thing slightly wrong all along. Let me explain.

What does it really mean, practically, to rest? Like, if I was looking at my life… how would I be able to say “Yeah, I am resting in God in the area of __________”. In trying to answer this question in my own heart, I have realized that I have made "rest" into a “ceasing to act”—but, I think that I have defined rest with a serious error because…resting is actually active.

I mean, the bible says “labor" to enter into the rest of God (Heb. 4:11). I have to admit, I don’t fully understand this verse…but, one thing I do know is that resting is not inactive… resting is not a “just do nothing” or a “saunter through life” attitude. Actually, resting (as God has defined it for me) means…

…to REST in the reality that nothing I can do, say, think or not do, not say or not think has any effect on my position and love relationship with God—nothing can take it away or add to it!!!  

So, I started to realize that my part was to truly believe, live and REST IN this truth!!! BUT, the Lord started to show me (just last week!) that my mistake was that I stopped there… I stopped in the belief part. I stopped in the mental ascent and heart understanding to this truth of why I can “rest” in God—and lacked putting legs to my faith!! I lacked walking out the practical aspect of resting-- moving from what it is my heart, to the outworking of my life.

I have learned that RESTING in my relationship with God should actually FUEL and point me towards…personal responsibility, devotion, dying to self, pursuing my father, laying at the feet of my king, lavishing Jesus with love and passionately uncovering the jewels of scripture… 

 Resting in my position in Christ sets me free to live a life of practical devotion without the fear of getting into “works”!!!

So, I have gotten “back” to pursuing him again…and really devoting myself to His word. I have been setting my alarm to get up earlier, and instead of rolling over and saying “oh, I’ll just rest in his grace”… I am actively doing my part to spend time with the lover of my soul!!! And, I am still resting… I am just actively resting, not allowing what I do to make me feel closer or further, better or worse in the eyes of Jesus. I am accepted. I am adopted. I am forgiven. I am free. I am all of these things… not just to sit on , but to grow and pursue greater depths of revelation in him BECAUSE of these things!!! I have to say, just by being with him again—I feel stronger in my faith, I feel more alive and more able to decipher the tenderness of His voice!!! His word and being in his presence brings peace and joy to my heart—it brings perspective, clarity and confidence… ahhhhhh!!!

I got to spend some time with one of my favorite people, Donna, earlier this week—and she said something that simplified and summed up this season for me!!!  She said “mind renewal doesn’t start with talking, it starts with listening”—and, I really believe that!! I have a part-- my part is to get quiet, and spend time with Him...His part is mind renewal, and a whole buncha other stuff!!!

Here I go... journeying on towards silencing my heart before the Lord, pulling myself away to be with him, and pursuing His heart... all WHILE resting in Him....ahh, what a peaceful place it is!