Rest for the Weary

For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

Isaiah 30:15


I don't know about you, but I'm a doer, a fixer, a problem-solver. I like to make the plan, know the plan, follow the plan. And I get all out of sorts when any part of the plan does not work out.

No plan - Are you crazy?! You need to make one.....NOW!
Change the plan - Have you lost your mind?! What's wrong with the plan? It's working just fine....LEAVE IT ALONE!

There's just one problem with this problem that I have....God doesn't always let us in on His plan. Isaiah says that in returning to God and resting in Him we "shall be saved." Resting is a difficult thing to do for a doer, a fixer, a problem-solver. But that is just what God has called me to do in this season of my life. He has a plan for me, for my future. Jeremiah 29:11 assures me of that. But God has not revealed to me His plan. And that is driving me crazy! I want to know what he has in store for me! I want to know what this valley has been training me for! I want to know!!

But God is saying to my restless spirit, "Rest, My daughter. Rest in this season. Renew your strength in this "quietness." Soak up all you can from the Word and from the godly people in your life. Rest, knowing that I'm the doer right now. I'm the fixer. I'm the problem-solver. And, when the time is right, I'll let you in on My plan for you."

Wow - that's hard to even type. But I know that it's true. I have been through the valley, in the battle, on the frontlines for months. Then God broke me and showed me that I needed to return to Him. I pray that you have experienced the joy of returning to Him. And I pray that you will listen to the words of Isaiah and draw strength from being quiet with the Lord. These are all things He is teaching me right now. And, I have to admit to you, I'm a stubborn student! But now He is teaching me the importance of resting, and I think I'm starting to understand. It feels good to be wrapped up in the Father's arms, knowing that He's got everything under control. It feels good to let myself take a break from the harried life that I live and just find myself resting.

Resting in His arms - which are always waiting to hold me.
Resting in His peace - which surpasses all my understanding.
Resting in His promises - which He is faithful to fulfill.

Listening.
Learning.
Preparing.

For what? I don't know that yet. But I do know one thing - When He says, "It's time to go," I'm going to make sure that I am rested up and ready to go!

Returning to Your First Love

For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

Isaiah 30:15


Being in the valley is no fun. In fact, it can be down right miserable and lonely. I know it has been for me. I can remember one particular night just pacing the floor, crying out to God, my body wracked with sobs. In my mind, a battle was raging between good and evil. I found myself wishing I could just pick up a gun and shoot the devil or brandish a sword and lop off one of his arms. My brothers and sisters in Christ - we have that power! God has given us a gun, a sword. Ephesians calls it the Sword of the Spirit. It is the Word of God! That is our weapon against the evil one. And if we want to win the battle for our minds, we need to be filling our minds up with the Word of God! It's what Jesus used when He was tempted in the desert. It's what we must do!

Isaiah says that we will be delivered by "returning and resting." I pray that you are intimately spending time with the Lord daily. But if you are not, return to Him! He desires to commune with you. To hear your hurts, your fears, your praises, your thanks. Return to the Lord! Feel the power that being a child of the King can bring to your weary soul!

God tried desperately to get my attention for months, seeking my return to His waiting arms. But pride stood in my way. I thought I was handling everything just fine on my own. We all know how well that works out. And eventually, God had to break me to get my attention. I am now seeking after Him in a way that I haven't in years....maybe ever. The path to "returning" was not easy. Being broken was horrible and humbling. But the benefits are immeasurable! I have this thirst for the Word that I just can't satisfy! And that is my prayer for you. Return to the Lord. Let Him hold you and fill you up to the measure of all fullness!

I pray that Jesus never looks at me again and says, "You have forsaken your first love." (Rev. 2:4)

Have you forgotten what it feels like to be madly in love with your Saviour? I think we can all benefit from praying these words of David:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:10-12


Return to the Lord, my friends! Remember the joy of when you first believed!

Ain't Nobody Gonna' Steal My Joy!

"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:18-19


I don't know about you, but my past is full of moments I would really like to forget. They are times of pain, shame, guilt, secrets. And the devil would like nothing more than to keep these memories at the forefront of my mind. The enemy comes only to "steal, kill, and destroy." And my friend, he has tried to steal my joy, kill my hope, and destroy my calling. He brings them to my mind when I least expect them. And often times, it leaves me feeling defeated and useless to the Kingdom. How in the world could God use someone with the past that I have, with the struggles that I have faced, with the secrets I have kept, to do anything that would bring Him glory? That is the lie that the enemy would have me to believe. And, ashamedly, I have to admit that I let him beat me down far too often. I become convinced that Satan is right. That I have no earthly value. That my life will never produce any fruit. That God will never be able to use me.


But then.......


There's this "still, small voice" telling me, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

You and I have been called to live an abundant life for Christ! God is crying out to us - Forget all those horrible things of your past - I have! Don't be consumed by them! Can't you see it?! Don't you see it?! I am doing something new!! And I'm going to use you to do it!

Praise God that our story doesn't end with our past! Praise Him that He is faithful to forgive! Praise God that the VICTORY is ours in Christ Jesus!

I don't know about you, but I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT NEW THING GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME!

And in the mean time....Ain't Nobody Gonna' Steal My Joy!