What does it mean to enter into rest? 

Well it’s time for a new blog post! This time we are talking about being encouraged in the Lord!  You have a hope and a future.  If you’ve been following along in this series, we are talking about how to “Enter into the Promise Land”.

God has a place that He has prepared for us in this life.  This is a place of jove, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit simply waiting on us.  

Life IS worth living when you make a quality decision that Jesus IS LORD.  

Our Verse

Our verse today is out of Matthew.  Jesus is talking about our life here on earth.  

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29-30 KJV

You don’t have to know

Isn’t it so refreshing to know that you don’t HAVE TO KNOW!  We often want to stress out about things that we can’t control,  but what Jesus is saying is that we don’t actually have to know.  Instead we need to focus on following Jesus. 

Focus on Jesus and find rest

It’s a restless business not knowing things, but we can take courage that God’s plans for us are good!  We are called to enter into rest.

Entering into Rest

What is “rest”.  This is the peace you and I feel in our spirits when we know that we are doing all we know to do for Jesus.  There’s something peaceful when you can lay your head down at night and KNOW you’re doing all you can for God. 

Here are a few very simple way that we can actually start to enter into rest.

1. STUDY – not casually read – the Bible every morning.
2. WORSHIP – not listen to worship music – every morning.
3. PRAY – in spirit and understanding – with scriptures. 
4. MEDITATE – talk / quote scripture – while praying.
5. QUICKLY OBEY – listen for God to speak in big or small areas and obey immediately.
6. MAKE TIME – make it a point to stop doing something you want to do to spend time with Him.

When you do these things, you will radically change the way that your life looks and how it feels on the inside.  If you’re doing all you know to do, then you are in God’s perfect will and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

Think about this from the natural. If you wanted to date a girl, you’d STUDY to find out what she likes. You’d have to TALK to her at some point (PRAY). You might think about her or talk about her to others (meditate).  If she wanted to go do something, you’d want to do it with her.  You’d make time to spend with her. And when all’s said and done you might even write her a song (worship).

When we put it that way, it makes sense.  After you’ve put in effort like that, she’s gonna be WOWed and PROUD to know you.  The same happens with Jesus.  

Then pretty soon you find encouragement for this life, why? Because you’re around the life giver whose very presences is joy and love.

Small Recap

So here’s the small recap of everything we’ve covered up to this point.

1. Adam was the God of this earth.
2. Adam gave his authority to Satan by committing high treason.
3. Everyone born into this earth is born under the bondage and rule of sin.
4. Jesus came to take the authority away from the devil.
5. Salvation is a free gift and can’t be earned by anything we do.
6. We have to choose to turn aside to meet with God and receive our freedom.
7. Next we have to make a quality decision to not go back to where we are most established – sin.
8. By quitting to do our own works, we can enter into rest. 

This is just the beginning.  There are so many comparisons to the children of Israel as they traveled in search of their promised land. As we continue on we will see more and more of these. 

Step 2: A Quality Decision | What will YOU do with your salvation?