Where is your rest?
Does man’s effort produce the Peace of Christ?
If God is all powerful why do we feel the need to “do” something more?
“All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” – Luke 4:36
If the Peace of Christ is attained by my effort then the cross of Christ becomes worthless and I for one am not anywhere near willing to say that are you?
So why do we feel the need to “do” something for God?
If we really believe that God is all powerful shouldn’t out spiritual growth be about trusting Him more and ourselves less?
This is the Grace of God not that we did anything to deserve it but that He did everything to cleanse us- Now rest in that!
People were amazed with the authority and power of Christ but trouble starts when we feel the compulsion to follow a rule because by following that rule suddenly His peace is based on my power- Not His!
What I am saying sounds very simple but from what I have seen we have made it very complex so let me say it this way:
Anything you think you have “to do” for God to smile on you, takes you away from resting on what Christ did!
Find a time and a place where you probably won’t be disturbed and you will be able to just “Be still and know that He is God.” Start by taking a couple of deep breaths and with each exhale just let go and let God bring a sense of Peace into you. Take however much time you need to get still and when you feel a bit more still just breathe normally and:
Breathe in and say:
“Only Your power”
Breathe out and say:
“Gives me Peace”
Practice this until you understand that His Peace passes all understanding while our peace doesn’t pass the end of our nose!
