Striving to enter His Rest

Published by christi on June 27, 2019June 27, 2019

I was listening to a CD by Graham Cooke on rest. He pointed out that the first thing God and newly-made Adam did together was to rest. I need to learn that from God…how to rest.

I would have loved to see Adam and God resting together: God showing him just how it was done.

Man was made on the sixth day of creation, and the next day God rested from His works.

This doesn’t mean that God ceased to hold the universe together by the word of His power, or that the newly-minted constellations got scrambled up while God was away on a vacation, but that He took the time to enjoy what His hands had done. He finished His work of creation.

Maybe that’s why it is hard for me to rest…my work is never finished, especially in the midst of canning season.

The never-ending to-do list robs me of rest.

Using the “check in with Papa” alarm has brought me more frequently into the place where instead of consulting my list as to whether I am finished, I ask my loving Heavenly Father, who finished the work of my rescue when Jesus died, having paid all that was owed for my freedom.

Sometimes, I get the internal “okie dokie” to keep on with my current task. Sometimes, I get a clear nudge to stop assess my attitude (Am I doing this in cooperation with the Holy Spirit or on my own?) before continuing. Other times, there is an awareness that I need to stop what I am doing and change direction…or just sit down.

I have to admit, having that alarm go off every 30 minutes can be annoying, but I need the constant reminder that I am not my own, and neither is my schedule!

The Bible writer is clearly not talking about working hard to plan a vacation when we are told to “strive to enter into His rest” because the next bit tells us that it at least refers to believing what God says about Jesus being our Rescuer and Forgiver.

For me, the striving part is the hard work of putting down my “spiritual to-do list” and letting what Jesus did for me be enough.

Leave a comment below and let me know how I can pray for you to find His rest, too.

Christi