Whatever you’re going through, God’s has it totally under control. You can rest.
Hebrew 4:3, Living Bible
“For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest.”
When you hear God calling—ANSWER—and enter his rest. God calls us subtly. His voice is often so quiet, we fail to recognize his call. God doesn’t call you on your smart phone. (Oh, if it were that easy!) God knocks on the door of your heart and it sounds like…
- A sudden desire to read the Bible—God’s calling you into His presence.
- An impromptu thought of a friend or someone you know—God’s calling you to pray.
- A song comes to mind and the melody plays over and over in your thoughts—God’s calling you to praise and there is a message in that melody for you.
- An unexpected desire to help someone—God’s calling you to be a blessing.
There are many other ways God calls. The point is to obey the call–it’s the key to you remaining in rest that day. Each day brings its trials, temptations and troubles. But on the same day, God offers his grace, which has the power to overcome every challenge. Jesus’ disciples saw him operate in God’s grace…
- No food to eat? Jesus multiplied what they did have. (Matthew 14:15-20)
- No money for taxes? Jesus gets the money from the mouth of a fish. (Matthew 17:24-27)
- Sick? Jesus speaks the word and a person miles away is healed. (Matthew 8:5-13)
- Oppressed of the devil? Jesus casts out demons with one single (Matthew 8:16-17)
What is the source of Jesus’s power? The disciples realized it was Jesus’ prayer life—his intimate time with the Father. They asked Jesus, “Lord teach us how to pray.” He responds…
Matthew 6:9-13, King James Version
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
Jesus recognized the Father’s power and simply prayed that God’s will would be done that day. That’s it. Then, Jesus just obeyed whatever the Father put on his heart.
John 5:19-20, New King James Version
“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”
Whatever you’re going through, God’s has it totally under control. You can rest. The enemy wants you to worry, get frustrated and respond to the trial in anger or fear. God invites you to trust Him and enter His rest.
Hebrews 4:9-11, Living Bible
“So there is a full complete rest still waiting for the people of God. Christ has already entered there. He is resting from his work, just as God did after the creation. Let us do our best to go into that place of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in.”
Know this: Jesus is not stressed out right now and you don’t have to be either. He has a solution for every problem in the world at this very moment. He has a plan and the plan is finished. Our job is not to work on the plan, but rather to obey God’s plan. When we obey God, we can enter God’s rest.
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