The Promise of Rest

This has been quite a week!

First there was the continuing trauma of the earthquake in Haiti. We watched in shock as pictures of death and destruction too horrible to imagine flooded our consciousness. Despite our prayers and giving, we wrestled with feelings of helplessness and inadequacy to meet the needs of the victims.

Meanwhile, our own nation struggled with issues that left us feeling helpless and inadequate: healthcare plans, elections, controversial bonuses using government bailout money, and a sluggish economy. The week ended with the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the commemoration of the 50+ million babies lost to abortion!

As if all that weren't enough, each of us had our own personal and private issues threatening to drag us into despair.


BUT GOD PROMISES REST!

The incarnate God, Jesus Christ, knows our need for rest. He said:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

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

If you are weary, go to Jesus and learn from Him. Jesus often retired from the busyness of His world to meet with God. There He found rest for His soul in committing His future to God's keeping. "Not my will, but yours be done."

Then, though His task was difficult beyond measure, God gave Him the strength to carry it out. Your assignment may be hard, but place it in God's hands. Then get some rest. There's no shame in resting. God Himself was our example: He took a day off to rest after creating the world!

Tomorrow is Sunday. Give yourself a day of rest, and honor the Lord's Day. It's not about legalism. It's about recognizing the gift God has given you!

A Promise to Renew Your Strength

We've talked about mistakes we made in 2009, and our hopes for a better new year. However, hoping won't make it happen. "Turning over a new leaf" won't make it happen. We have to resolve in our hearts to follow the Lord, learn His ways, and lean upon Him.

Can you resolve to let the Lord guide you this year? Will you keep Him, rather than your circumstances, as your focus? Will you trust Him to renew your strength? This is His promise if you do:

"Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

- Isaiah 40:31 

God promises to renew your strength so that you can:

• soar like the eagle, above worldly concerns
• run life's race without feeling weary
• walk through life without fainting
  

What will have to change in your mindset for this to happen? What could keep you from experiencing renewed strength in 2010?

The Promise of Peace in 2010

Yesterday I asked the question: What would your life be like without worry or stress?

Can you even imagine a life without worry or stress? Panic seems to be an integral part of the human condition. We sometimes even cling to panic as proof that we're conscious of the state of things. "Well, duh, of course I know the world's a mess. Look at my own life: it's spinning out of control."

Remember a few days ago we talked about Jesus offering peace--not the world's peace, but rather a peace that surpasses understanding. On one occasion He said:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened

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

Jesus offered a supernatural peace, not the world's peace. As a matter of fact, this supernatural peace involves gentleness and humility--not qualities the world prizes. It is gentleness and humility that recognizes our need for God, our need to trust in Him with all our heart and to acknowledge Him as guide of our lives.

If we do that, we will find rest for our souls. Yes, rest and peace will replace our worry and stress. And 2010 will be a very good year!

Can you resolve to let the Lord guide you this year?