Resting in Jesus

[by Dr. Charles Stanley]


2)Open the gates, that the [uncompromisingly] righteous nation which keeps her faith and her troth [with God] may enter in.  3)You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 4)So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages]. Is. 26: 2-4 (AMP)



Wars, economic crisis, and daily responsibilities are just a few common sources of stress that we encounter. Allowing ourselves to dwell on such things would invite anxiety to overwhelm us.

The Lord has a better way. Jesus assured us that, though we would face difficulty, we could rest in Him (John 16:33). But we cannot trust someone we don’t know. For this reason, we should first seek to find out who He is.

Truths from Scripture are a good place to start. For example, our God is Lord and Master. He is omnipresent, omniscient, faithful, and powerful. He loves unconditionally and offers forgiveness to all who trust His Son as Savior. He adopts believers as His own children and wants the best for every Christian’s life—so much so that He chastises us when we disobey. And He desires that we love Him above everyone and everything else.

Knowing these facts is only the beginning. As in any relationship, time together fosters closeness. We can read the Bible, pray, meditate on God’s Word and listen quietly for His Spirit to speak to our hearts. This helps us to understand how He thinks. What’s more, watching the way God works in other people’s lives helps us to know His ways.

Jesus is trustworthy, and He offers rest in the midst of a troubled world. He wants you to lay your burdens upon Him and experience His peace. Do you know this amazing God? Carve out time in your schedule to be in His presence every day so you can know Him better and better.
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn