In the fall of 2019, God called me and said it is time to step into a new thing in September.
I was ready to move, dream, create. Yet, God said rest.
I said we do not have time. If we are pivoting, I need to start working.
God said you need to rest.
‘He makes me lie down.’
He required my position to be one of submission and surrender before He could begin the preparation.
The Power of Rest. That is what I want to talk about today. Crazy enough, I postponed posting this episode. Why? Because I was busy. I was running & dreaming as God was saying …
“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. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
– Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
I created an idea in my mind that waiting is laziness.
Maybe you have to?
Working on this podcast, I felt like I was hitting a brick wall; until I search REST in my notes app on my phone. Note after note I found myself struggling with REST for YEARS.
God is teaching me that resting doesn’t mean you are doing nothing.
The Power of REST is that it requires us to surrender to God.
It’s shutting up so He can speak.
It’s learning that He is our true source.
John 15:4-5 – Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.
Sitting long enough to let my mind settle, and my heart open up to hear what God has to say.
Surrendering to God began as a wrestling match. I’m pretty sure I was acting like Jacob in the Bible. I wanted my blessing and refusing to let go until I received it… I ended up with a limp and questioned if the wrestling was worth it. I kept trying to meddle in the things God asked me to let Him handle. I wanted the resources of God instead of wanting God.
For me, surrender was related it to weakness.
Also, after a lot of loss in my life, surrendering felt like another loss. One more “sacrifice of obedience” and wondering when God would show up. My problem was I expected physical blessings for my sacrifices. I wanted God’s resources more than I truly wanted God.
Then God led me to Psalm 23:2. Until February of 2020, I never realized Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down,”
I think about a parent with a sleepy child. Sometimes the parent just has to make the child lie down. The child could break windows with their screaming to not lie down, but the parent knows they need their nap. They see the bigger picture that their baby does not see or understand. The child has to learn to trust that their parent knows best.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been the screaming child. God has tried to lie me down, yet I have fought him.
He says, ” trust me.” My actions say, “To what extent?”
He says, “I will provide.” My actions say, “I’ll search for provisions, just in case.”
He says, “I’m going ahead to prepare the way.” My actions say, “I’ll call to make reservations.”
The Power of REST is countercultural to what we learn in our “instant” society. Work harder, faster, die trying, keep hustling, make plans, strategies, don’t sleep, work more, and create back up plans.
The Power of REST is that it requires us to surrender to God.
Surrendering to God is the beginning of supernatural strength that far surpasses human strength or wisdom.
If we are REALLY HONEST… We fear rest. See the scary part about a REST is being focused to face yourself.
I believe most of us like to run 100 miles an hour all the time. Our biggest excuse for not resting is not having enough time.
If we go back to John 15:4-5. — that chapter goes on to not only talk about remaining but the gardener who will prune. As we surrender to Jesus, His Holiness reveals every area that’s unholy within us. That is a very scary thought if we stop there.
God doesn’t stop there.
As we are in His presence, there is a shift in our vision, in our hearts, in our minds, and we find ourselves transforming into the fruit (or character) of Holy Spirit.
I’m a nerd for numbers, and the number 20 means a complete or perfect waiting period. Rest.
Going into 2020, pastors across the world preached on 2020 vision.
Have you considered that an eye doctor makes everything completely blurry before they adjust you to clarity?
They take you to the worst vision, and then they bring you into your best.
We are already in our worst state, but every time we surrender to Jesus and allow ourselves to rest in Him, He brings us into our best.
I’m not going to act like I am an example of knowing how to rest. Honestly, I’m probably the worst example. However, I am learning there is a difference between physical rest or sleep & soul rest. God provides a deep soul rest that truly rejuvenates your strength in a way that makes no sense.
I’m stubborn, so surrendering is hard for me. I am daily working on surrendering, and I’m finding that each time I do, the level of rest I feel is incredible.
Two things I’ve learned that I hope will help you.
- It’s a daily decision. It’s not a one-time, twenty-minute Bible time. It’s every day allowing yourself to abide, rest, wait, sit, being positioned in the presence of Jesus, expecting Him to speak.
- Pay attention to who surrounds you. The life or death people speak, will either fuel you to trust God or distract you from Him!
Scriptures:
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1
Yes, my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:5
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116:7
I want to leave you with this final verse:
Psalms 23:1-6 TPT
“The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows. So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!”
CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS 