Working to Rest

Ps 46:10 NIV “Be still, and know that I am God . . .”

Would you agree that most of us have no problem staying busy, working on either physical or mental activities? How many of us who fit that category, however, find it just as easy to be still, both physically and mentally? When we have made the decision to stop all the necessary busy-ness to rest, we don’t usually succeed because we continue pondering (worrying about?) those things we “need to do.” We haven’t given ourselves fully to resting and being still.

This applies to our spiritual lives, as well. Those of you who receive Prayer Nuggets already pray and understand the need to come to the Lord, not only for your own needs, but for the needs of others. You also understand the need to read and study the Word of God for your hearts to be changed by the power of His Word. So regularly spending time with the Lord is not the problem. But how often do we come into the Presence of God just to find rest in Him, just to know Him more? How often do we still ourselves in His Presence?

Ps 91:1 NIV “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Matt 11:28 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Heb 4:10 NIV “for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.”

Notice in these passages that an action is always required to enter His rest. In the Psalm above, we must dwell, sit down and stay permanently, in the shelter of the Most High. In Matthew, Jesus tells us to come to Him to receive His rest. Even in Hebrews, though you have to rest from your own work (the work of the flesh) to do so, you must enter God’s rest. In none of these places will the rest just fall on us because we are believers. It will require work of some sort.

Perhaps you can relate to a typical time with the Lord that hasn’t included being still and knowing Him, or entering His rest. We come in, greeting our Father warmly with a “hug” (praise, worship, and thanksgiving), then go on to list out what our requests are for the day. We finish by giving Him another “hug” and telling Him we love Him, then head on our way. The Lord looks longingly at us as we leave, wishing we would stay longer because He wants to tell us things that will help us in our daily lives. Sometimes, He just longs to spend time with us so we can begin to know Him as He knows us! Isa 30:18 NLT “But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. . .”

I’ve only recently begun putting this into practice, so right now I’m like a little child. I sit still just long enough to begin to sense His Presence (though I know He is always with me), and immediately begin asking questions. I get a sense of Him smiling at me, His little child, as He puts a finger to His mouth in an effort to remind me to be quiet. I smile back at Him as I stop the “noise” and feel the peace return as I rest in Him once again. It’s going to take consistent effort for me to be able to stay in that place of rest and stillness with Him. Eventually, after much work, it will be such a part of me that I will truly dwell in that place throughout my day. I will know Him and make Him known to others. This is what dwelling in Him, resting and being still in Him, is all about – that others may see and want to know the One we know so well! Wonderful “working” to you!

© Copyright 2005 Kay V. Stocking