Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Are You Resting?

Hebrews 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

Christians these days seem to be more troubled than they should be. We are to be at rest. The problem is that God's people are stressed.

How many of us worry? I'm sure we all find ourselves worrying about something. Worry is a sin. When we worry we are not trusting God as we should. We might think we're trusting Him but if we sit and fret or worry we aren't REALLY trusting Him.

When we worry we may find ourselves trying to help God out to fix whatever it is that we are worried about. When we trust God completely for His will in a situation then we will have His peace and assurance that He is working in that situation and that the results will come in His way and in His time.

God has a purpose for everything we go through. And when we rest in Him then He gives peace and comfort as we do.

We get burdened for loved ones not living for God. Wives are burdened over husbands and husbands are burdened for their wives. There are children that are breaking momma and daddy's hearts. There are Christian homes that are in trouble. We should not allow those burdens and the feelings we have due to those situations destroy us.

We need to take those things to Jesus and we've got to leave them with Him. He does not want us to worry. Worrying does not change the situation...it only changes us. It will change our attitude (we'll become short...snappy and grumpy). Our disposition will be affected. And even our health will be affected (high blood pressure...stomach ulcers...migraines...etc.).

(vss. 14-15) "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Jesus understands. He has experienced everything that we're going through. Jesus never promised to do away with our suffering...only that He would fill those sufferings with His presence. I really like (verse 16) "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Are you going to the throne room with that burden you are carrying? Are you going daily? Are you going when you feel yourself beginning to worry about that burden? If you aren't then you are not resting in Him.

Rest in Him!!!! There is peace and comfort in resting!!!


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes Mrs Julie you are right Worry is a sin, and maybe one of the greatest sins in a Christians life, however I am so glad that we can rest in the Lord. The sad thing is usually it is when we get to our wits end and then we go to God and sometimes I think God just shakes his head and says if you would just trust me. Good Post.

Bro Tim

Sis. Julie said...

bro. tim...you are so right!! Why do we wait so long? I know I do at times and all I can do when I go to God is say...Father forgive me for not coming to you on this sooner. Shame on me and shame on us!!

PamelaK said...

Sis Julie, I know I do worry and that it is a sin, and I get so mad at myself. When I stop to think about it, I can always point to something in Jesus' life that relates to whatever my problem is, that He ewxperienced. Oh that I would just take my burdens right away and leave them! Something I definitely need to work on! Thanks for the great post.

Sis. Julie said...

pamelak...this is my notes to the message my husband preached on Sunday afternoon. He checked out my blog the other day...not sure if he had before that or not...but I asked him if he approved and he said "How could I not approve...you have notes to most of my messages on there!" This message he preached was such a needful one for so many in our church. God touched and encouraged hearts and the altar filled with weeping saints who were leaving their burdens at the Savior's feet so they could rest. Amen!!!

Thank you for your comments!! They are such a blessing to me!!!

Jodi said...

((Sis. Julie)) [Just hugging you 'cause I haven't been here in a while! :o)]

What a blessing that the throne of grace is open to us ... we're not just allowed to approach it, we're allowed to approach it boldly! Wow!

The path to that throne is, of course, paved with the Blood of the Lamb. Sometimes, we get excited about the Blood and the salvation it offers (as we should), but we stop short and ignore one of the blessings that comes with it ... access to the very throne of God.

And I agree it is by unburdening ourselves there in the Father's presence that we find rest! Amen!

And I can't let this passage go by without adding that I am so glad that Jesus is my high priest ... all God and all man (vs. 14-15)! He is all the priest I need. Praise the Lord!

****

May you and your dear family have a precious time of giving thanks! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sis. Julie said...

sis. jodi...your comment is so sweet and it blessed my heart so much!! Thank you so much!! I pray your Thanksgiving is a wonderful one as well!! Love you and thanking God for you this Thanksgiving season!!

Lyndy said...

So true. The enemy loves for us to fret and worry. Many times I turn everything over to God only to grab it right back. Resting in his peace is the best place to be.

Love you, Lyndy

LuAnne said...

Thanks for this, Julie. Resting in Jesus...wonderful peace!
LuAnne
http://daughterofroyalty.blogspot.com/

Sis. Julie said...

luanne....Amen...I'm glad you are resting in Him and have that wonderful peace. I'll stop over at your blog soon. Thank you for commenting.

Anonymous said...

I love how God works!! Our bible study at church last night was on this exact same thing!!

How wonderful is that!!

Bless you :)
Love Amy

~~Deby said...

I love when I know in my heart that I have indeed GIVEN it over to the Lord.....whatever it is...and yet sometimes it takes a process as I can get so caught up in *IT*...this is good Julie.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours....your blog is SUCH a blessing.
Deby

Sis. Julie said...

mrs. amy....that is neat!! That happens quite often it seems with different people who visit here. They will tell me that their pastor preached a message on it recently or they were just reading in their Bible about what I posted or something like that. I love it when that happens. That God would love us so much to have us hear or meditate on the same matter or subject within such a short time. When He does...He must really want to get something across to us don't you think?

Sis. Julie said...

sis. deby....Thank you so much!! You are a blessing that you would take the time to come by and read let alone leave a comment. I thank God for each of my readers. Without y'all I'm not sure I would continue to post. So thank you for the encouragement you give me to keep going!!

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