Call to rest – Part 1

​Dear Lord, thank you for the rest and relaxation built into your plan for every day and every week. DAILY REST Every day, we get to rest in you, Lord, if we choose to take the time to do it. We get to sit down, open the Bible, read, pray, meditate (reflect deeply) on...

Dear Lord, thank you for the rest and relaxation built into your plan for every day and every week.

DAILY REST

Every day, we get to rest in you, Lord, if we choose to take the time to do it. We get to sit down, open the Bible, read, pray, meditate (reflect deeply) on your Holy Word, and journal our prayers. This discipline has richly blessed those who do it. And those who don’t have no idea about the tremendous joy and peace they are missing every day.

Child, the time we spend together is very healing for all those who come to me and make this a daily priority. It is genuinely necessary to develop greater intimacy with me.

Yes, Lord. For those of us who are married, we would not think of only saying a few words a day to our spouse. And if all we did was talk and not listen, we would not stay married for very long! Relationships require two-way communication. But in order to have this conversation with you, it requires investing time and energy. A quick prayer here and there to you does not sufficiently meet the definition of a conversation. Sitting down with you and dwelling in your presence is essential. Help me inspire readers to do that, and help me consistently do that as well.

Dear child, inside of you lives My Holy Spirit. You have an ability to connect with me in a deep way wherever you are and during anything that you are doing. I am always available. Connect with me many times throughout your day. I am always ready to commune with you. I love you infinitely more than you could ever hope or imagine.

Dear God, this scripture comes to mind: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Child, this is what I mean when I say: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)

Lord God, may we all ask you just this one thing, more than any other thing: That you have your way with each of us. I do ask you to take over all of me. May every thought be held captive to you. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) May there be only your thoughts that run through our brains, and may all our thoughts glorify you. And may your thoughts produce the rest you want us to have.

WEEKLY REST

In addition to daily rest, there is weekly rest. I will write and have a dialogue with Christ tomorrow about that. By the time you read this post, it will be Monday, and you would have already had the subject I am going to have a two-way prayer over: Keeping Holy the Sabbath. So, here is the question to prepare yourselves to ask for tomorrow:

1. Are you experiencing “daily” rest in the arms of Christ?
2. Are you keeping the Sabbath holy and resting on a weekly basis?
3. How rested are you? You’re not a human doing; God made you a human “being” and as such, you need to rest from all the busyness of life, daily and weekly. Are you doing that?
4. If you need more rest than you are getting for your soul, what actions will you take? Make a list. Share it with someone who will hold you accountable to follow those actions that you have identified.

​Rest well, my friends. We are called by Christ to do just that. This life is a marathon. Not a sprint. Pace yourself to go the distance and to finish well.

Amen.

Your aspiring (and resting in Christ) servant,

Daniel M.

August 11, 2023

POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. Note: For ease of reference, all scriptures quoted are from the NIV.

If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.