Rest For Your Soul

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest."

[Matthew 11:28, MSG]

Amidst the beauty of each day, there could be things that leave us weary. Such could be our thoughts and meditations. It could be the activities we are involved with. It could be a situation that has left us running from pillar to post for answers and solutions. It could be weariness from religion - doing things to be called a Christian without knowing why or experiencing God personally. It could even be our feelings of failure when we fall make mistakes in our walk with God.

Do you find yourself tired because you put in so much effort without results? Or are you weary from worrying and being anxious about tomorrow? Are you burned out on religion? Today, Jesus Christ invites you to get away from those things that burden your heart, that you may take a real rest with Him. The rest He is referring to is rest for your soul.

Rest for the soul is the most desirable rest. You can get rest for your soul when you spend time in His presence worshipping Him and loving on Him. A sure way to find rest for your soul is to sit at Christ’s feet and hear His word. The truths and understanding from His words give you peace and assurance. Understanding the love of God will give you abundant satisfaction. 

Prayer: My Loving Father, You satisfy our needs and give strength to the weary. I cast my cares upon You and take Your yoke that is easy and gentle. I lay down my anxieties and worries to rest in Your love. I take my rest in you, Lord Jesus. May I experience You for myself. Amen.

Suggested Worship Song: Heart of Worship

The disposition of God's children

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

[Matthew 10:16, NKJV]

There are certain jobs that are inherently risky. In carrying out the demands of such jobs, a lot is put into consideration otherwise the outcome could be fatal or crippling. Some examples are fire-fighters, soldiers, stuntmen, race car drivers and so on. Risky as they are, lots of people enroll and execute them successfully, but with very high standards of operation and precaution.

When Jesus sent his disciples to preach the gospel, he alerted them of the high-risk nature of their calling. As children of God chosen to represent the Most High, we are as sheep amongst wolves. This two kinds of animals in reality do not co-habit peacefully. The wolves will constantly seek to devour the sheep. The MSG translation relates the text as, 'Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove'.

Thankfully, our Lord Jesus has not left us to fate but teaches us what precautions we should follow to stay out of trouble of compromising our faith, and stay alive in God. How can we be wise as serpents and harmless as doves? A serpent would look for smart means to stay out of danger and away from risk. They are pros at escaping. A dove would not intentional do harm to anyone. It has a calm and quiet disposition always.

As children of our loving father, we are called to be harmless in effect or intention, to give no provocation but peace always. At the same time, we are advised not to be gullible for our own spiritual safety but to perceive danger, avoid and escape it at all cost. Prov. 27:12, 'The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it'.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me of my disposition as your child. Let your word manifest in my daily affairs. Preserve me so I am not engulfed in worldliness and lose my Christian faith. Please give me the spirit of prudence and the ability to discern right from wrong. I pray to bear only fruits that glorify you in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - June 9 2010 - Nehemiah 6-9 (OT), 1 Corinthians 14 (NT).

Pray for someone today - Pray for less privileged children, who find themselves in so much hardship in life for no fault of theirs. That the Lord will help them encounter Jesus Christ and find peace and help as they grow. Pray that their purpose in life will be fulfilled wherever they have found themselves today, by Gods grace.

God's love and mine...

Assurance Of Good Things From Your Father

If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

[Matthew 7:11, WEY]

These words of Jesus were spoken as He continued the sermon on the mount [Matthew 5-7]. Jesus Christ, knowing the heart of God, encourages us to pray to God for what we need. He knows how much God gives good things freely to His children.

We learn from these words that we should come to God, as children to a Father in heaven, with reverence and confidence, knowing our place as His children. We must come to Him for good things, for He gives good things to them that ask Him. He knows what is good for us, and it is an act of faith and trust when we leave it to Him to gives us what is best for us. 

We also learn from these words that our prayers will be answered. The world often gives stones for bread, and serpents for fish, but God never does such. When we ask of Him, we can be assured that we shall be heard and answered. Should we ask for something that could harm us, He will know and He will not give it to us. Sometimes, a delay in answer to a prayer is simply God preparing to give us more than what we asked for.

The bowels of fathers yearn even towards undutiful children or towards prodigals. In a much deeper and greater way, God yearns for you. He is infinitely wise, full of mercy and loving-kindness, rich and more ready to give to you than your earthly father, for He is the Father of your spirit, an ever-loving, ever-living Father. 

Prayer: My Loving Father, if ever I was in a place of doubt or unbelief as to Your plans for me, today I am rest assured that You answer my prayers according to Your will and give me what is best for me. No good thing will You withhold for me. Thank You, merciful Father, that even with my imperfections, You love me and yearn for me. Give me the grace to continually trust You and rest as I wait for the physical manifestation of my petitions. In Jesus Name, Amen.