Beyond comfort.... Rest

I cannot relax or be still;  I have no rest, for trouble comes.      Job 3:26

I am churning within and cannot rest;  days of suffering confront me.  Job 30:27

Have you ever been at a place where you were forced to rest?  Where your mind can't stop, but your body can't go?  When there is so much to accomplish, but physically you have hit "the wall"?  Why is it so uncomfortable for us to be in that place?

Last Friday, I had a laser procedure done on both feet.  Everything went well and I was looking forward to a quick recovery.  At this point, I venture to say there is no such thing.

re-cov-er-y

1. a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

2. the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.

In this life, it seems as if we are all striving for something.  Whether it is the struggle for position or possession, we feel like we control our own destiny.  We never stop lest we might fall behind... and that makes the reality of the TRUTH so hard for us to understand.  Yes, we were created to work, but also to rest.

For we are His creation- created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.  Genesis 2:2

So if we have been created in His image, should we not emulate work ethic?  Even Our Creator knew rest would be necessary after work had been done, yet in our need for control, we fail to stop.  What we don't see, many times, is that The Father is always drawing us into a deeper relationship with Him.  He desires to be in fellowship with us, but we have to stop.  This is not new.  The book of Job, one of the oldest books in the Bible, shows humanity's weakness in complete rest even in the Lord's most faithful of servants.  Here we have Satan gaining God's permission to torment Job in a great test of his faithfulness to God.  God knew Job would be faithful, but in the end, Job had to be corrected.  While his faithfulness was sound, his trust was lacking as he continued to question God about his circumstances.

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

So here, we see the differentiation of physical rest from work, and spiritual rest from our mental stresses.  While God was training Job to trust Him deeper, even through terrible times, He was also showing him that He was trustworthy through anything.  God wasn't asking Job to defend Him, but rather just to let Him be the faithful God that He had always been.  This is His rest.  The same rest Jesus calls us to when we don't understand or don't have all of the answers.  We were not created to carry worries and burdens, but rather to trust. 

I would encourage you to read Hebrews 4.  Once again, we see the example of God resting on the seventh day....after His work was complete.  We also see that knowing the "good news" (yes, this is referring to the Gospel), and being disobedient to Its call, invites torment into our lives.  BUT, the door is always open...because He loves you.

Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.  Hebrews 4:7b

So, my new definition of RECOVERY... is to fall back into alignment with Him through obedience, and enter into His rest.  Re-covering me in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  You see...the work for these characteristics has been accomplished...and they are available to you through submission to Him.

I invite you to share, like, follow, and comment.  Thank you for reading.

Confession.... under judgement??

Confession.... under judgement??

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.  The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.  James 5:16

If you grew up in church, then you most likely have spent some time trying to figure out just how the above scripture actually works.  Most of the folks I have talked to about this have come to the point where they are of the mindset of, "You must be crazy if you think I am unloading all of my failures, and have all of the people's judgement of my actions.  You have no idea the shame it would cause me."  The fear of transparency has been ushered in by the culture we have created... especially in the church.  It is a culture of self-righteousness and pride that can only come from a thought that someone is above the sacrificial action Jesus did on the cross.  I must confess (and dare one to judge), after growing up in a religious culture of shame, I have committed my fair share of unsubstantiated judgements.  I beg forgiveness for anyone who sees this and has experienced this from me.  Know that I am not the person I once was.  I had no right.

"Do not judge, so that you won't be judged.  For with the judgement you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye?" Matthew 7:1-3

So this culture that we have created has been an open invitation to the enemy, who has established a spirit of fear within the church.  In our own conventional "wisdom", we have created an environment which is not conducive to confession, yet we are called to bear one another's burdens and confess our own sin to others.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

In John chapter 8, Jesus tells those of judgement if there is one without sin, cast the first stone.  One by one, they dropped their stones to the ground and left.  They knew that Jesus was without sin and didn't act.  Perhaps they began examining their own lives.  Examination of the heart is called for in our humanity.  Scripture tells us that God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  If we are made in His image, we should do the same....starting with our own lives.

Imagine the peace that was experienced by the woman who was almost stoned to death when Jesus told her He had no condemnation for her.  "Go and sin no more", was His response.  I will bet her life was changed forever.  I believe this because of lives I have seen changed...including mine.

Christ has liberated us to be free.  Stand firm then and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

So once we are liberated, through repentance and forgiveness, we are instructed to not return to our sinful ways.  Jesus came to set us free from the guilt and shame of our failures.  We do this through confession of our struggles and failures.  If we fail to act in this manner, we carry a burden we are not meant to carry.  We also keep any encouragement we might need in our struggles inactivated.  Transparency will elevate the name of Jesus and, in reality, is your greatest weapon.

They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.  Revelation 12:11

The word of your testimony is the story of your depravity drowning in His grace.  This is abundant life.  What His plan is for you and me.  Shame and guilt can't be used by the enemy any longer at this point.  He is defeated in the name of Jesus.

I challenge each of you to find freedom through confession.  I know it is hard, but this is His desire for you...not to carry an unnecessary burden.  Trust Him... He wants you to... Leave the Ledge.

Please share this with those dealing with the shame of past failures.  There is freedom in the name of Jesus.

Words.... What are you speaking?

Words.... What are you speaking?

All of us have been on the receiving end, or have delivered, a verbal tirade.  The spew of harsh words carelessly plastered together for the purpose of tearing down and degrading a person.  It is a poor attempt to build ourselves up by belittling another, flexing the flesh muscle of our tongue to illustrate a power position.  When in reality, we are showing our weakness and fear.  My youngest daughter will correct a person in this manner....

No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear.  Ephesians 4:29

You see, those words that we use carry great power...and great responsibility, to be used appropriately and in the manner mentioned in scripture.  I will testify (and NO, I am not perfect.  I still fail daily) that I have seen the power of words completely change marriages, friendships, attitudes, and countenance.  The very posture of a person can be restored to health.  But I must profess the Holy Spirit's work in my life to soften and change my heart COMPLETELY changed my tongue.

"Brood of vipers!  How can you speak good things when you are evil?  For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart."  Matthew 12:34

These are the words of Jesus as He was teaching about the fruit of our lives.  We all need to hear, and offer, words encouraging others.  And on the flip side, we need to understand that when others spew, we have the option of receiving or rejecting those words based on the level of truth they carry.  This was me growing up.  I soaked up every word, good and bad, true and untrue.  It was very unhealthy spiritually, but I didn't understand my identity and who God says I am.  By the way, I am gonna go with what He says.  :-)

Several years ago, I was part of a layoff.  I was at the top of my game, but went 16 months without a position.  During this time, I was somewhat lost as I had lost my knowledge of who I was... I had become my position.  So I did a little exercise to get some perspective.  I utilized Facebook for feedback from friends.  I wanted to hear from those who knew me.  Just a word, when they see or hear my name.  I called this "The Blake Experiment".  This was not an appeasement strategy, but rather I needed to hear from the heart of those who I had let see my heart. I have never shared this list, but here it is.

Sincere, Integrity, Friendly, Gentle, a mess (that's 2 words by the way), Fishing, Christ-Follower, Caring, Country, Friend, Cutie, Leader, Fun, Generous, Faithful, Salty, Mighty, Talented, Tracy, Blessed, Persistent, Awesome voice, Kind, Loyal, Compassionate, Role Model, Funny, Steadfast, Diligent, Spiritual, Determined, Dedicated, Trustworthy, Devoted, Sharp, Opinionated, Observant, Cool, Solid, Genuine

This was humbling, empowering, invigorating, energizing, and challenging.  I know that I can't be all of that on my own.  I have chosen to build on this list.

He must increase, but I must decrease.  John 3:30

This is the way we change our tongues.  The fruit of our mouths will only change as our hearts are surrendered to our Creator, who has sent Holy Spirit to counsel us in our times of need.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  Proverbs 18:21

For every creature - animal or bird, reptile or fish - is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness.  Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things should not be this way.  Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?  Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs?  Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.  James 3:7-12

If you have ever bitten into a bad piece of fruit, you likely spit it out because of its bitterness.  In this action, you have chosen not to receive bad fruit.  It tasted bad and you had a good understanding quickly that it was not good.  Reflect on this prayer of repentance from King David after being called out for correction after pursuing Bathsheba.  Remember, David was a "man after God's own heart".

Psalms 51

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love;  according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.  Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.  For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.  Against You - You alone - I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight.  So You are right when You pass sentence;  You are blameless when You judge.  Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;  I was sinful when my mother conceived me.  Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach wisdom deep within.  Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;  wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Let me hear joy and gladness;  let the bones You have crushed rejoice.  Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.  God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.  Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You.  Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.  Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.  You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;  You are not pleased with a burnt offering.  The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.  God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.  

For this is how our tongues will be changed...from within, by Him.

Faithfulness... A picture of our understanding

Faithfulness... A picture of our understanding

Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.  They are new every morning;  great is Your faithfulness!  I say:  The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.  Lamentations 3:22-24

Just recently, I was in a store observing "dialogue" between a mother and her 3 year old.  By "dialogue" I mean the mom was standing over the 3 year old as the child's actions debated her cause.  We have all seen this on occasion and most of us shake our heads and walk on by mumbling the disciplinary steps that should be taken.  Meanwhile, a loving parent is stuck trying to explain the whys of their decision not to give in to the tantrum.... or some do.  It is an all too familiar occurance that has created the entitlement culture we live in today.

Because we are influenced by our environment, many have let this mentality creep into our relationships... including our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  When we pray, we want it now because we like control and are selfish in nature... much like the 3 year old.

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth.  He never grows faint or weary;  there is no limit to His understanding.  He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless.  Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust 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 faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31

Do we completely understand that our Heavenly Father knows our needs, thoughts, struggles, failures, and desires before we ever bring them to Him in prayer?  Do we not trust His timing as Creator of the universe?

Have you ever looked back to evaluate the faithfulness of Abba Father?  His faithfulness remains in every situation.  Some of us need to put on our proverbial "big boy pants" and stand on the solid foundation of the Word of God.

Reactionary spirituality will fail the faith test every time.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.      Hebrews 10:23-25

This implores me to encourage you to continue and read Hebrews 11.  If those who have gone before us acted in the 3 year old manner, they would have lost out on the blessing they received.

Hold fast to the promises of The Faithful One, and remember... He is for you.

Please share this with those who might need encouragement, or are walking through the waiting.  The Father knows.