I was reminded this morning that no one can take my peace, unless my guard is down, and I give it to them. My guard is down when I have had no rest (I’m not talking about sleep). We must labor to enter into God’s rest.
A line in Hebrews 4:11 struck me.
“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest…”
How do you rest? Do you schedule time for it frequently or surrender only when you cannot go on any longer? Society demands that we be available, twenty-four seven, in our work life and home life. But remember that we are in the world, not of it.
I have been writing since I was eleven. My first novel was published over a decade ago, one last year, and another on May 29 this year. Things that I have pushed to “make it happen” with the prior two never amounted to much. Through the last release, with Kissing Hollywood, I’ve learned a valuable lesson. Rest. Without resting I cannot hear, be inspired, refreshed, have His peace, and trust Him. Rest is crucial. This doesn’t mean I’ve sat on my laurels and expected the book to shoot off the charts in sales and popularity. No! But resting has allowed me to be guided on a path that has lead to open doors and open hearts with this writing endeavor. Amazing opportunities presented themselves at just the right moment, because of His timing and my surrender. If I had not taken the time to rest I may not have recognized the timing.
So friends, rest, pray, listen, be still with Him, seek and trust, having His complete shalom. In that rest His presence is made known, in even the little things.
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