I had a realization this morning that I want to share because I think it pertains to many of us… I don’t know how to rest! If you have gone through a long bout of spiritual warfare, it can be hard to “put your dukes down.” Are you poised for battle ALL the time? Are you use to swinging that “sword of the Spirit” left and right, front and back, up and down, side to side that you have become accustomed to the heaviness and are stuck in “fight or flight mode”? Sometimes we keep going and going and going, and Holy Spirit is standing there just waiting for us to heed what He is saying, which is:
“STOP – IT’S TIME TO REFRAIN FROM BATTLE AND PUT THAT SWORD DOWN WARRIOR! REST IN ME SO I CAN REFRESH AND RENEW YOUR MIND TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH TO CONTINUE ON. YOU CAN DO NOTHING IN AND OF YOURSELF AND I NEED YOU TO STOP.”
If so, this post is not only for me, but for you. Hey precious warrior for Christ –
IT’S OKAY TO ENTER A TIME OF REST
Did you know it is actually an act of disobedience NOT to allow yourself rest? Take a look at Isaiah 30:15:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”
We forget that we are a spirit that has a soul that lives in a physical body! Psalms 127:2 tells us:
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to his beloved sleep.”
WE NEED TO REST
God doesn’t expect us to fight 24 hours a day 7 days a week – so if you are feeling weary and exhausted it’s time to replenish and allow yourself a time of restoration. We can become battle weary and when that happens we become vulnerable and of no good to ourselves or to others. I really struggle with this myself and it is something that I realize I have to learn how to do and I have to MAKE myself do it. Let me encourage you to do the same!
The battle belongs to the LORD, we are vessels, and we have Holy Spirit residing in us. Even Jesus had times where He went off to pray and replenish, take a look at Mark 6:31 where Jesus is speaking:
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”
Hebrews 4:9-10 says:
“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.”
Matthew 11:28-30 says:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
WE NEED TO MAKE OURSELVES REST!
The opening of Psalm 23 (a very good read for the entire psalm) tells us:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
If you are like me, it is hard to turn your brain off – even for a day, but it is completely necessary! God requires you to rest! How do we do that? We follow Jesus’ lead – go for a prayer walk, some place peaceful and quiet where you can commune with Holy Spirit and let Him refill the cup of you! I find that the ocean is the best place for me to feel at peace. To walk a sandy shore and hear the waves coming in/going out. To see the sea gulls flying high above and smell the soothing saltiness of the sea. When I can’t get away to the ocean, I put on praise and worship music at home and cuddle up with my dogs, or I curl up with a good book! We have to find ways to allow Holy Spirit to fill us up because an empty cup cannot pour out anything. Spending time with Holy Spirit is refreshing and rejuvenating. In other words, find a way to rest! What works for me may be different than what works for you and that’s okay! Let’s pray for help with this:
“Father, I thank You for never leaving nor forsaking me! I thank You that the battle belongs to You! Holy Spirit, please forgive me for the times when I have depended upon my own strength and not Yours! I know fully well I can do NOTHING in and of myself! (Nor do I want to!) Please give me discernment as to how/when to shut my mind off and put down my sword. Unclench my fingers from from it and help me to allow You to renew my mind. I recognize that I am a spirit that has a soul that resides in a physical body which is a temple unto you so help me to exercise self-care and rest as you would have me rest. Fight as you would have me fight – my life is not my own, it is Yours and I thank You for helping me to walk (and rest) in wisdom. Father, I love you. Lord Jesus, I love You. Holy Spirit I love You, please guide me in ALL things including rest! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
The Bible tells us in Isaiah 40:28-31:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
It is when I don’t allow myself to rest that I find myself vulnerable to the enemy because I have not done as the LORD has requested. I find it is those times that I have depended upon myself and NOT on Holy Spirit to strengthen me by entering a much-needed time of rest and I have had to repent because by not resting it is the same as taking things into my own hands instead of entrusting whatever situation I am into His. I have to remind myself of Philippians 4:6 which tells me:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
I pray this post has helped re-direct you to allow yourself a time of rest in renewal. It is when we do that, we find ourselves refreshed and ready to fulfill God’s calling on our lives. Our victory has been made by Jesus Himself! Resting is an act of obedience, and the renewal of mind, soul and spirit is one that allows us to continue to fight the good fight of faith in Him! And because of it, He is glorified! May you heed these words and allow yourself the patience and love and concern that you have shown to others – God says you are worth it! You ONLY have to rest! \0/ \0/ \0/
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