REST YOUR WAY FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” ... - Isaiah 30:15 NKJV

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; - Psalm 37:7a NIV

Source: Google Images

When you face seemingly impossible situations, refuse to panic, refuse to fret…well, if you are thinking, how do I do that? Here’s how, just simply remind yourself of your true identity, who you are in Christ and how your Father sees you, remind yourself of the fact and the knowledge that you are eternally and perfectly loved by your Heavenly Father and that He is actively taking care of every detail of your life. Doing that will give you a proper perspective, God’s perspective, the right perspective on the circumstances. That way the situations you are facing will not overwhelm you.

As the Good book declares, God does not lie, He says what He means and means what He says. He said He is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind (Numbers 23:19). He is in you and has promised to be with you always, He's promised to supply all your needs, He won't leave you hanging, He gave His son Jesus, His very best for you, He surely will not withhold anything else from you. All His promises to us in Christ are “yes”! (2 Corinthians 1:20)

He never goes back on His promises. He doesn’t just give us promises of provision, protection and supply but He also has the power to see to it that His promises don’t fall to the ground. In other words, He backs up what He says... Once we have His word, we know it is as good as done, that’s the God we believe in.

The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.- 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV

When Jesus saw people languishing under heavy burdens of guilt, shame, worry, anxiety, fear, condemnation, despair and all sorts of bondages, He was moved with compassion and called them to Himself, He invited them come and find rest in Him and to learn how to truly live and enjoy life in Him. Jesus came to set the captives free and His invitation to rest in Him stands to this very day.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 NIV  

Should you tempted to become restless or if stress tries to sneak up on you, may the Holy Spirit remind you that you are “yoked” or “united” together with Christ, as the Word says, He who is united or “yoked” together with the Lord is one with Him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17) and that truth alone will empower you to confidently rest in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

It is interesting to note that, what Adam and Eve did the very next day after being created, was to rest. It was the seventh day and they hadn’t even begun their assigned job of tending the garden yet, they started by resting with God first! That’s how God wants you to approach life, from a position of rest. You are in the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, rest in Him and receive divine strength, wisdom and strategies to face and overcome all challenges that the world, the enemy and the flesh might be throwing at you. Rest in Him and be empowered to effectively and efficiently do what He has called and commissioned you to do. Rest in Him by actively believing, meditating and confessing His promises to you. Let your confidence be in your Father, the Creator of all things and not on any created thing.

Source: Google Images

Many times, it is fear and unbelief that keep us from resting in the Lord; may the Holy Spirit continually remind us of the truth that we are eternally and perfectly loved by the Father and His perfect love casts out fear from our hearts (1 John 4:18). Let us choose to believe His Word and by doing so deny fear a foothold in our minds. May this eternal truth be settled in our hearts, God loves us, He loved us even when we were steeped in sin, He loves every single person perfectly and eternally, and that is why He wants everyone to come to the saving knowledge of the truth, that is to to know and believe in Jesus and what He has done for them and to confess Him as Lord.

We can confidently come before the Father only because of what Christ has done, He paid the price for all of our sin past, present and future on the cross, He died and rose again on the third day so that through faith in Him we are counted as righteous before God and He does not keep a record of our sins; knowing and believing that will drive away any fear that tries to come between you and God. It is not about you, it is about Jesus and through His perfect sacrifice you have been made righteous. In Him you are a saint, not a sinner!

Return to your position of rest in Christ today, instead of trusting in your own good deeds, put your trust in Him and His promises to you! Rest your way from victory to victory in Jesus today!