Rest

January 19, 2009

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

God wants you to come into His presence and enter into His rest. Through the battles of life, it’s important to press past the urge to back off from God’s plan (Galatians 6:9).

You may be so overwhelmed with pressure that you don’t even feel like praying, but as you draw near to Him, He draws near to you (James 4:8). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep, has an inexhaustible supply of strength available for the weary.

Sometimes we need to sneak away to find moments with Jesus. We don’t always have the luxury of going to the shoreline or the mountains, but we can have interludes with God right here in the middle of our busy lives. Don’t underestimate the value of these moments in His presence; small adjustments to seek Him more will yield big results. Drawing near to God for even a few minutes a day can refresh, rejuvenate, and revitalize you for life’s journey.

God asks you to console yourself with Him the oftenest you can. Lift up your heart to Him even at your meals, or when you are in company—the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud: He is nearer than we think. –Brother Lawrence, from “The Practice of the Presence of God”

Spending time with God is not an obligation or an option but an opportunity—it’s where you find the answers to every problem you are facing. Start your day with the Lord before you do anything else. Battles are won one step at a time. In the presence of God there is enough power to not only sustain you through the trials and rigors of life, but also fortify you to radically impact the world around you.

Draw Near,

Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.