“I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” Exodus 33:14
To God alone be the glory for His wonderful love towards us and for sustaining us through the first half of this year. I welcome you to the seventh month of the year 2024. The number seven in the Bible represents completion, perfection, and divine intervention. For instance, God created the heavens and the Earth in six days, and he rested on the seventh day, which became the holy Sabbath.
Genesis 8:4, says that the ark rested in the seventh month, on the mountains of Ararat. The Lord told Moses in Exodus 33:14 that, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Our theme this month is, “I will give you rest.”
May the Lord give us rest from all our labors in Jesus’ mighty name.
Rest can have several meanings, depending on the context. It could be physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual rest.
Physical Rest: This is the most basic form of rest, referring to the state of our bodies when we are relaxed and free from exertion. It allows our bodies to repair and recharge, which is essential for maintaining good health and energy levels. This type of rest can come from getting enough sleep, taking breaks throughout the day, and engaging in relaxing activities. Jesus was sleeping on a pillow in the boat, finding time to rest (Mark 4:38).
Mental Rest: This refers to a state of mental calm and quiet. It’s about giving your mind a break from stress, worry, and overthinking. Mental rest can involve activities like meditation, spending time in nature, or simply taking time to disconnect from technology.
Emotional Rest: This involves allowing yourself to process your emotions healthily and letting go of negativity. It can involve activities like journaling, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy.
Spiritual Rest: This refers to a feeling of peace and serenity that comes from connecting with God rather than yourself. It can involve prayer, spending time in nature, or engaging in spiritual practices, praise and worship, or meditation.
Overall Well-being: True rest is often a combination of these different aspects. When we are physically rested, mentally calm, emotionally balanced, and spiritually connected to God, we experience a sense of wholeness and well-being.
The Bible uses the concept of rest metaphorically to describe the peace and security that comes from a relationship with God. It’s not about escaping from life’s challenges, but about finding a source of inner strength and peace that allows us to face them with resilience.
The Bible emphasizes finding rest in God, not from him. We experience constant busyness, anxieties, and a desire for control. The Bible teaches that true rest comes from trusting and relying on God’s power and love, not from distancing ourselves from him.
• Our Limitations: Humans are finite beings. We get tired, stressed, and overwhelmed. We can’t carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.
• God’s Sovereignty: The Bible teaches that God is ultimately in control. He is all-powerful and knows what’s best for us.
• Surrender and Trust: When we surrender our burdens and anxieties to God, we find rest. 1 Peter 5:7. This doesn’t mean we become passive, but that we trust in God’s guidance and provision.
Finding Rest in God
True rest comes from:
• Reliance on God’s Strength: Trusting that God will take care of us, even in difficult times (Proverbs 3:5-6).
• Letting Go of Control: Surrendering our anxieties and burdens to God’s loving hands (Matthew 6:25-27).
• Finding Peace in His Presence: Experiencing the calmness and security that comes from a relationship with God (Isaiah 26:3).
By cultivating a deeper connection with the Lord Jesus Christ, we discover a wellspring of peace and rest that surpasses our human limitations.
Receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior is the first step to receiving rest from the Lord. Jesus Christ says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
PRAYERS
1. Father, thank you for your unfailing love and compassion.
2. Lord, I ask that you grant me peace that surpasses all understanding. Calm my anxious mind and soothe my troubled heart.
3. Father, help me to release the burdens I carry and trust them to your care.
4. Lord, renew my strength and fill me with your love. Please guide me to quiet places of rest, where I can experience your presence and find solace.
5. Grant me the strength to face another day. Renew my spirit and fill me with your unfailing love.
6. Help me to see the world through your eyes and find joy in the simple things. Remind me of your promises and the hope you offer.
7. Father, help me to surrender my anxieties to you. Give me the grace to let go of the need to control and trust in your perfect timing and plan.
8. Father, remind me that you are always in control and will take care of me. Lead me to a place of stillness and peace, where I can find rest in your presence.
Welcome to the month of rest and perfection. May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Yours in the Lord,
Pastor Lillian Haastrup.
