Resting in God

Rest is a word that means different things to different people. To me, resting is beyond sleeping; I love to maintain a level of internal peace above the noise and chaos of the world. This means that I prioritize being still even for as little as 5 minutes before getting into the business of the day.

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The image I have is sitting on a chair while drinking a warm cup of tea and staring through the window. At other times I’m lying down, allowing my mind to catch up with things while enjoying the calm environment.

If you were asked, I’m sure you also have your way of resting. But today, the rest we are considering is beyond the natural sabbatting, but the type of rest we enter through Faith.

In the book of Hebrews, from chapters 3-4, we are made to see that there is a rest we must enter. While God rested on the seventh day after creation and ever since has ceased from His works. There is still a resting place we must seek to enter through faith.

A Doubting Generation

God made a promise to Abraham that after 400 years, his descendants would possess the land of Canaan. But when the time came for possession of the land, they couldn’t enter into their inheritance because of unbelief.

They believed what the physical environment was saying at the time. Out of 12 Spies that were sent to survey the land, 10 saw giants and they saw themselves as grasshoppers while only 2 of them were willing to go because God said so.

Psalm 95:7-11 gives us a picture of what the decision of a generation and their response to God’s instruction looked like; they disobeyed the voice of the Lord, hardened their hearts through unbelief, and they grieved God’s heart. Therefore, for 40 years they became wanderers till the entire generation that doubted died – never entering the rest God provided for them.

Hebrews 3:19 TPT‬
They could not enter into their inheritance because they wrapped their hearts in unbelief.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:9-11; NKJV

For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I grieved with that generation, And said, “It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest.

Psalm 95:7-11; NKJV

Living a Faith-Rest Life

Today, God is still speaking and He is constantly calling us to set our minds on Him through faith as we face different situations in life.

We have several promises in Christ Jesus, and we have access to God’s promises for every life question. We can only possess them if we receive the promises by Faith. When we believe we experience that state of rest.

Resting from this context means entering that space where we believe God’s word absolutely and follow the instructions that come with it.

How can we enter the place of rest?

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews.4.11; NKJV

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You Because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3; NKJV

Entering the place of rest is something that is renewed daily. It’s not one time thing – as long as we are on the journey of faith in God we have to keep entering God’s rest.

Hebrews 11 gives account of men who did mighty things through their faith in God. Similarly, if we are going to possess our inheritances in God, it has to be by faith, which means we must continually enter that place of rest.

How can we do this?

1. Seek His face on that particular thing through prayer.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 -7

2. Believe wholeheartedly whatever He says even if the physical condition looks contrary.

3. Cease from your works: Don’t try to get things done with your strength and wisdom.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7

4. Obedience: Whatever He asks you to do, do. Obey every instruction to the letter.

His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

John.2.5; NKJV

5. Be diligent: It takes diligence to enter the rest in God. We have to be persistent holding fast to the confession of our faith.

The rest of God for us in all situations, but we can only enter this place through faith and confident trust in God.