Rest in the Lord
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Five Keys to Finding Rest in Christ
Matthew 11:28 KJV:
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28–30 Message:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
YouTube Come All You Weary:
The first key to rest is coming to Jesus.
Hebrews 4:7–12 APNT:
7 again he set another day after a long time, as it was written above, for David said: Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
8 For if Joshua, the son of Nun, had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterwards about another day.
9 Therefore, it is established for the people of God to be given a rest.
10 For he who enters into his rest has also rested from his works, as God [rested] from his.
11 Therefore, we should be diligent to enter into that rest, so that we will not fall in the likeness of those who were not persuaded.
12 For the word of God is living and completely effective and sharper than a two-edged sword and enters all the way to the separation of soul and of spirit, and of the joints and of the marrow and of the bones, and judges the reasonings and the thoughts of the heart.
The quote in verse 7 comes from Psalm 95.
Psalm 95:6–9 ESV:
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice [sheep learn to recognize the shepherd’s voice], 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
Resting includes stopping doing something. The Aramaic word picture has the action of unloading a burden, like unloading a ship.
The second key is don’t harden your heart; unload your burden.
Psalm 23:1–6 NLT:
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
The third key is to drop down and let yourself get settled.
If you don’t drop down, how will you settle in green meadows?
Psalm 1:2 ESV:
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
When you meditate on the Word, there is rest in the Word.
The fourth key is to trust that God will give you exactly what you need to understand and to thrive.
Psalm 1:3 ESV:
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
The gardener ensures that each tree has exactly the right amount of water. Water, in the Bible, represents spiritual life and sustenance.
Philippians 4:6–7 APNT:
6 Do not be distressed about anything, but at all times, by prayer and by petition and with thanksgiving, your requests should be made known before God.
7 And the peace of God that is greater than all knowledge will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.
Peace or rest is like a weapon that will guard your heart and mind.
Philippians 4:5 ESV:
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
The fifth key is to let the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is the rock of my salvation, my stronghold. I will not be shaken.
YouTube, Shane and Shane, Psalm 23:
- Come to Jesus.
- Don’t harden your heart; unload your burden.
- Drop down and let yourself get settled.
- Trust that God will give you exactly what you need to understand and to thrive.
- Let the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Scripture Reference
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
“Scripture marked (MSG) taken from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.”
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved.
See Also:
Rest in the Lord on the Acts Now Fellowship website.
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