Rest for Anxious Hearts

I've been learning why God instituted rest as part of our lives.It is true - our bodies are finite and if we keep believing delusion that we are not, we become less efficient down the line, even for His kingdom. 

It's so easy to get caught up in life - clinical placements, uni, catch ups, conferences, workshops, church, sports, work, planning our future. We're constantly filling our schedules with things to do or even filling the silence in our cars or minds with social media, music or podcasts.

Our minds are constantly switched on. If you have your eyes off your phone at any given time, have a look at the people around you in the train or at the dinner table. What are they doing? At the end of the day, we'll all fall into the same pit - tired, anxious, burnt out or sick. 

Hopefully you look better than this.

I'm not saying all that we're doing is wrong. 

What I'm proposing is that they bring no further value to us if we choose to not rest. 

Resting can be defined practically such as getting enough sleep, doing things that help you relax, eating well, and down time.
What does it mean to rest in God, though?

___________________________________________

Taken from Encounter with God devotional by Robert Solomon.

Psalm 62

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 
How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down—
    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 
Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.
5 
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 
Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.
9 
Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 
Do not trust in extortion
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them.
11 
One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 
    and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.”

A restless and anxious heart is a heavy burden. Psalm 62 speaks of restfulness and trust, offering it to all who are blown about like leaves in a storm. Rest for the soul has to do with who God is and our knowledge of Him. There is no rest outside of God. He alone is our rest, he alone is our rock and salvation. The psalmist declares that God is his salvation, fortress, mighty rock and refuge. This personal knowledge of God brings peace and rest. This does not mean the psalmist is free from trouble. In fact, he is assaulted by enemies who try to topple him, but through it all, he is able to testify, ' I shall not be shaken'. How wonderful it is to believe in God and to belong to the unshakable kingdom!

Rest is connected with trusting God 'at all times'. It is easy to be troubled by adversity and to place our trust wrongfully on human ingenuity, wealth and even wrong and deceptive actions. God alone is worthy of our trust; he indeed is our refuge.

The psalm ends with a declaration of the character of God- again, the basis of our trust and rest. Two characteristics of God are highlighted: God is strong; God is loving. What great comfort this truth brings us! NO matter what you are facing, remember that God is strong enough to lift you up from the deepest pit or free you from the vilest dungeon. He also loves you enough to make sure that no evil comes to you without first passing through him. This alone is reason enough to trust him and find rest in him. 

Is there restlessness in your heart? Can you readily trust God? Reflect on who God is and how he relates to you. Then pray trustingly and rest.

___________________________________________

Be still and know that He is God. 
..and rest.

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