I told you that I would update you on my findings because, honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. And I try to be a woman of my word (#proverbs31 #goals).
Well, this month has been amazing with ZERO stress.
...
Just kidding.
But I have definitely learned some things.
1. Rest is a mindset.
2. Rest is a choice.
3. Rest does not equal laziness-- rest is holy.
4. Rest is a lifestyle.
But most importantly:
Rest keeps you in a state of Readiness. What does rest keep you ready for?
Rest keeps you ready for revival. Rest keeps you ready for rescue.
Rest keeps you in reliance on the One who can be relied on.
Anyone tired of alliterations yet? (Ironically, that was a vocabulary word in Yearbook 1 today!)
Rest is something that creates an environment for a spirit-filled, fulfilling life.
I used to think that rest was inaction. But rest is a state of being. Rest is a place in which you operate from-- not just something that you do.
Rest also helps reorder. Operating from a place of rest helps to reorder the list of things that we deem important.
Operating out of a spirit of rest means that you are focused on Him.
It doesn't mean that all you do is sit in your room singing praise songs and praying in a million ways of rest.
It means that everything else is in order. He is at the beginning. He is at the end. Everything in our lives are seen through His light, from His perspective.
Rest releases an inner high-rise.
You suddenly see things from a higher perspective. You see the things that stressed you as farther away, and therefore, smaller. This is the size stress should always come in: small.
Rest translates to trust. Trust in Him and there is rest in your spirit.
About two weeks ago I had this amazing encounter with God in my car. It was a very normal moment, but filled with so much meaning and power. I was driving my car, worried about the potential danger of a student who was dealing with a lot of stress and anger in his life. I was worried about the safety of my students, my co-teacher, and myself. I was also very concerned with the welfare of this particular young man. Long story short, I could feel myself sitting with all of my neck muscles tightened. I hold all of my stress in my neck since I was in a car accident four years ago-- and I probably held stress there before then as well.
I heard the Lord whisper, "Give it to Me. Give Me your concerns for this student." And so, I said, "Lord, I give them to you."
As soon as those words escaped my lips, I had the most intense feeling of chills I've ever had in my life. All of the chills were concentrated on my neck and shoulders. Small vibrations went up down my stiff neck muscles. The feeling left and I felt completely relaxed and at peace-- as if I had just finished getting a message!
The Lord wants you to operate from rest. Rest leads to trusting in Him. Trusting Him is partnering with Him. All of my fears and concerns did not come true. And even if they had, I would rather be operating out of rest, than stress.
No comments:
Post a Comment