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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Rest (01/17/13)
People from all walks of life and from all points of history have been struggling, striving, and fighting to survive. We dreamt of a world where there is no pain, no burden, no trouble of any kind and whatever intensity or gravity. However, this has been an elusive quest for a perfect life devoid of sin, sickness, death, and hell.

In our own lives, we are constantly challenged to perform and function to the best of our ability, capability and capacity. We keep searching for the grandest life we have so long been chasing for – salvation of our families, restoration of relationships, success in career, fruitfulness in ministry, divine health and everything else that comes in-between. But sadly, to the detriment and expense of our relationship with our Maker.

Parents kept working in the office or business to make wealth to provide for their kids, children in turn try their best to study and finish their degrees. Companies are competing with each other to advance to the ladder of success. Pastors and the congregation are so busy for the Kingdom and no time for the King. Governments, cities, nations, are onto the fast-paced trend to salvage economies from recession and imminent depression.

Let's not look far now. When we leave our homes, we will see street people homeless, hopeless, and helpless. When we pass by hospitals, pharmacies, orphanages, rehabs, prisons, nightclubs, mental institutions, all we see are diseases, bondages, addictions, strongholds, and demonic oppression everywhere.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, what can we do? Or a better question would be, is there anything we can ever do for ourselves, our families, our neighborhoods, our cities, strangers, and the world around us?

A resounding YES. By knowing who God really is and who we are in Christ according to the Word of God, we can overcome. In the Genesis account of creation, God created everything in six days and rested on the seventh day. This is the Sabbath Rest. God never taught us to be lazy or not to work. In fact all throughout Scriptures, mankind are commissioned for dominion and stewardship over all creation but we are also commanded to REST.

Majority of our problems are caused by restlessness and not obeying God's prescription for Sabbath rest. According to medical and health research and studies, our bodies are originally designed to function only for 6 days straight. After that, we ought to rest to regain strength, rejuvenate, rehabilitate, and be restored back to its full capacity the following week.

What does it mean to REST? It means taking one full day off relaxing our body, soul, and spirit and just enjoying and soaking into God's presence, love, and His Word. Try it for one four weeks, rest every 7th day and you will see amazing results. Once our bodies are in perfect shalom rest, all our cells, organs, tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, systems are not being subjected into stress, pressure, and pain. Our minds when rested and meditating on the Word of God will be renewed. When we change our thoughts, we change our lives.

When our will are rested, we make the right decisions every time and take the right course of action every moment. When our emotions find rest, we become stable and balanced. When our hearts are at rest, we discover inner peace, joy and the fruit of the Spirit. When our inner being which is our spirit is in complete rest, we commune with God better. We hear Him clearly, we experience His presence, and we receive love from Him and all our needs that are not met from other people, situations, and things, we only find in Him alone.

Imagine a world that knows how to rest in God. Certainly, people will be drawn to the gospel, wars will cease, sicknesses will be healed, relationships will redeemed, and you know the rest of the story.

We cannot overcome the world any other way. God the Father Himself rested, Jesus found times of refreshing in the Gospels, even the Holy Spirit is a Spirit of peace and rest. Rest in God. Out of this posture of rest, we can overcome the world.
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This article has been read 1204 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
01/25/13
Prolific message with a powerful and important last line.

God bless~
Jan Ackerson
01/29/13
This is well thought out. My own preference when reading devotionals or lessons is for something I can relate to--some specific example from a person's real life. Otherwise, it's too cold and abstract. Your writing and organization are very good.
Virgil Youngblood 
01/30/13
The title gave a good indication of what was to follow; a thoughtful article relating well to the challenge theme. Although some phrasing was awkward, your message was clear.
Allison Egley 
01/31/13
There are some great reminders here. Nice job, especially for a first entry!
Myrna Noyes
01/31/13
You share a VERY important message in this piece. (In fact, I wrote on the same topic of Sabbath rest in "A Gift of Great Grace" in Masters.) I believe the Sabbath was given as a blessing, and even secular people are realizing its benefits. In enjoyed reading the many reasons we need this one day of the week for rest and refreshing.
Phyllis Inniss 
01/31/13
A powerful message. If only we would obey that fourth commandment we would indeed find ourselves more at peace with the world. The world seems too busy to hear or listen to that message. Well written article.