Rest

" Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. " - Psalms 37:7

Rest as opposed to action, movement, taking things into our own hands, devising schemes, doing, creating. 

Rest from the Merriam-Webster dictionary: 

a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities, freedom from activity or labor ,a state of motionlessness or inactivity, peace of mind or spirit, a rhythmic silence in music, something used for support.

Rest in God, finding comfort and quiet confidence in Him that the need to strive and take things into our own hands cease. 

Wait patiently. I know i know, its impossible to wait patiently for anything in this generation. Everything happens instantly! Sending and receiving emails, text messages, calls. No more waiting days, months, hoping that the mail won't get lost through its process and journey. We have instant noodles, fast food, microwaved popcorns ( gah!,). We live in a now now now age. Its normal and Okay for us to lose our temper, to complain in annoyance, to blame someone else if we don't get what we want NOW. Everyone becomes extremely demanding, their way has to be met, and profits have to be made within certain time frames.

People use to walk or ride animals to get to places. Go on sea, dependent on where the wind. blows and the temperament at sea. Now we are so sheltered and so protected, and totally allowed to control almost everything! The weather don't seem to matter so much as it did before. Self dependent beings we are. I can't even say, remember the days where we had to grow our own crops and wait for harvest.  Where there were seasons for sowing and seasons for reaping. Haha, we just go to the supermarket!. Or well now we can do online shopping! We need not even move our body.

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When i think about waiting patiently, a women from the bible reminds me of how needed and rewarding it is to wait on the Lord and how disappointing it is when we actually try to take things in our own hands. Well, if you can maybe guess. Yes that women is Sarah. Abraham's wife. :)

Promised by God that she who was barren would one day have a son. She waited for years, yet, no Son. She soon forgot who the giver was, and Him who's timing was always perfect. She was required to wait on the Lord for God to fulfill this promise. But out of her disbelief, her hastiness maybe. She took matters into her own hands and asked Abraham to have a son with her maid servant Hagar. You can see here that she totally have lost her faith, she was here not trusting and hoping in God but wanting to work things our in her own timing and understanding. But the consequences we actually disastrous and the child that Hagar had for Abraham in fact was not a chosen son of God because it was not an act of obedience towards the Lord. God of course out of his sovereignty and loving kindness and mercy will always be able to make all things work out for those who love Him but there is always consequences when we try to take things into our own hands and depend on our own works.

God said to Sarah" I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be from her. "- Genesis 17:16. She was at that time 90 years old, totally way pass the age to give birth. She actually laughed in disbelieve. But as you know this promise was fulfilled. Isaac was born, the promised son! So hence, should we all learn from Sarah and learn to wait patiently on the Lord. :)

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Another person that came into mind were the two sisters in the New Testament. Martha and Mary. 

"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”And Jesus  answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” - Luke 10: 38-42

Here as it is illustrated, we can see that Mary was resting at Jesus' feet,  humbly listening to all He has to say. She was not busy serving Him, She was not doing anything! But sitting there resting at His feet and listening to His Word. And when her sister complained to Jesus asking Jesus to tell her sister to get up on her feet to help her serve Him and everyone else. Jesus just said, Mary has chosen the good part which will not be taken away from her. Stop worrying Martha and stop being troubled about the many things! I guess the only true service to God is the service of obedience. Obedience to His Word. We can't serve Him without Him, now how dangerous would that be! 

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" There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. " - Hebrews 4:1-3


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rest.