Wapta Falls, British Columbia, Canada
Before I leave you on this four-part series on rest, there is one more thing to understand that is vital to your own quest for rest.
You already know attaining it will not be easy and even practicing it will prove problematic just as practicing anything we are not good at usually is.
What is vital to understand?
The enemy does NOT want you to recognize rest is a gift nor does he want it to be operationalized in your life through practice.
To receive the gift of rest and practice to more fully reside in it is a threat to all he counts on where believers are concerned. He is very familiar with our weaknesses. He knew those potential weaknesses were there before the Garden of Eden and he has been studying human beings ever since. He knows what tempts any one of us, how to seduce us away from his long-time foe, and then pull us into frustration and condemnation.
The truth is:
Dislodging the gift of rest from our awareness, our acceptance of it, and our practice of it are key elements of the enemy’s battle strategy against us.
He has many weapons in his arsenal and he also knows which ones are most effective for each of us. What are some of these weapons?
They include, but are not limited to distractions of any and all kinds, ambitions run amok, worry, anxiety, fear, anger, self-pity, self-centeredness, jealousy, envy, loneliness, relationship issues, addictions, too many leisure pursuits, too few hobbies, laziness, the pursuit of wealth, over-involvement in the church, or excess fascination with worldly wisdom. These things and many others distract us from the Lord.
His enemy, our enemy, could not be more delighted with that. He doesn’t care whether we get overly involved with bad things or good things so long as it takes us away from resting in the Lord. Anything that pulls us away from the Lord is his ultimate goal because it is then that we become easy prey. He is so good at this strategy that often we do not even recognize he has set the trap for us in this area. That is especially true if the loss of rest comes from doing good things and involving ourselves in the work of the church.
Satan wants our time, our attention, and our worship. It has always been that way.
That should not result in us scurrying around in exhausting battle positions. He can use that to seduce us into believing once again that we must achieve rest.
We will be more effective if we maintain our practice schedule of rest so that our focus does not waver and we are not upended.
Jesus’s earthly ministry was comparatively short. He knew it would be. Did we see Him rushing around, adding more healing services to his calendar, adding one more prayer meeting to His week, and trying to find space for an additional discipleship-training module? Of course not!
Jesus only did what the Father in heaven showed Him. He rested in Him, trusted Him without wavering. As a result, He often went off alone to rest and to commune with the Father. Other times, He hung out with friends whose company must have refreshed Him as well.
Jesus had been drawn into the wilderness for His testing. The enemy waited until He was exhausted and famished and then he offered his gifts of food, power, and position. He knew Jesus would be at his weakest humanly.
The enemy does the same thing with us.
More than 40 years ago a very wise little lady who had walked with the Lord for a very long time gave me a very good piece of council. It has been a tutor in my own quest for rest.
Here it is:
“The enemy will do one of two things. He will make you tired or busy.”
I love the way Jesus puts everything into perspective and points us to what we need to know about rest.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Mt. 11:29-30 The Message
“We will be more effective if we maintain our practice schedule of rest so that our focus does not waver and we are not upended.” Exactly, Pam. Now to go and do it…. Thanks for the encouragement to rest!
You’ve got that exactly right!! You’re welcome!
Hi Pam! First of all, the photos here are gorgeous!
I like the thought that Jesus had little time time on earth, but never rushed around, or lost his peace. That says a lot to me.
I am one who likes the idea of peace very much, but often can’t quite make it there. My prayer of the quiet is often anything but! It’s good to be reminded that forces greater than me are trying to push me away from peace. I need to hang on to my Lord and face down those forces who haven’t a chance against my partner!
Wishing you his peace always,
Ceil
Glad you like the shots! They bless me when I recall taking them and the sweet times my husband and I shared in these places. Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend, and peace to you through Him .
Pam, I replied to your comment on my blog before popping over here to read yours, and it amazed me to see you writing about the very thing I was asking God to bless you with! How I struggle with rest, way more than I should as an M.E and chronic illness sufferer who gets exhausted doing pretty much nothing and needs long periods of rest and recuperation after every activity. Wait.. maybe that’s the very reason why I find it so problematical?
After a horrendous bout of flu last year which floored me for months at a time and kept me confined to bed for much of it, I now really dislike resting there and inevitably end up in a chair instead, or on the settee. Yet I still need it because I fight deep-bone weariness and pain every day of my life and bed is the best place to be for it. Thank you so much for this very timely word which has succeeded in reminding me of the vital necessity of rest in every way. I need to take this to heart, and be more aware of the daily battle being fought for my soul. So glad I came over and read your God-given words! Bless you.
Thanks, Joy! I am so grateful the Lord used my words for your benefit. God’s best to you!
Oh yes, how many bad choices and decisions I’ve made when I was exhausted! Satan certainly knows how to target our weaknesses and manipulate the distractions! Critical post to share – thank you!
It happens to us all. I think that is why the “simple” admonition from this dear lady so long ago has been priceless to me. Thanks so much for sharing and affirming!
Pam, I like how you brought out that Jesus wasn’t rushing around even though His ministry was short. Great truths! Thanks so much.
Thanks! He always is giving us new things to observe about Him as we return again and again to His Word. Thanks for the lovely note and remembrance that I received on Saturday!
Yep, the enemy of our souls prowls around, looking for whoever he can clutch. Greater is He who is in us. Rest, stillness, quietness of soul helps us to embrace the Living One who conquers destruction.
I rest here, with you, with Him, Pam. Weekend blessings to you …
I think too often he sneaks up on so when we least expect it. So grateful for you and our growing relationship! It’s been chilly and a bit snowy, but surely spring weather will return! Blessings to you!
So important to recognize the battle! And great advise from that simple line! The enemy will make us tired or busy. Beautiful pictures. I feel rested just looking at them.
Thanks, Lynn! These are special places to us!
This is so good. What I see here is that there is a very subtle “greed of doing” that can lull us into thinking we’re ambitious for God, when truly . . . we’re just falling into a trap. So much good pondering to take into the weekend.
Blessings, Pam!
Thanks, Michele, that is what I have been discovering and wanted to share. Have a blessed weekend!