R.E.S.T.

Huge message yesterday at church. We had a guest pastor, Larry Stockstill, who is actually Pastor Chris's home pastor from Baton Rouge. Anyways, he is great - filled with so much wisdom. He gave a message on REST and I'd like to share a couple of the bullet points here because it really impacted me (you can also get the message online at our church website). The key scripture was Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest..." This rest Jesus is speaking about though isn't sleep, it's not sitting around doing nothing, it's not getting away from the world. I knew this and I know I can find rest for my soul in the Lord - by seeking him and by spending more time with him, but Pastor Larry gave us an acrostic actually explaining how to find this rest.

R - Relax in who YOU are. This is where grace flows. Pride and ambition drive you to be someone you aren't or to go after something you shouldn't. Stop comparing yourself to others. What is wrong with who God made you to be? We wear ourselves out trying to do more things because others are doing more. We wear ourselves out thinking our life should be different (we should be married, we should have kids, we should have a house, etc) because that's what other's lives look like. This is exhausting us whether we realize it or not. God has a different plan for each of us and we have to rest in the plan he has given each of us.

E - Examine your life for sin. Examine your heart. Psalm 139:23. Sin wears us out. Whether it's something we think of as huge or maybe something on a different scale (bitterness, anger, frustration with others), it's all sin and it all wears us out if we don't deal with it and ask God to forgive us for it and wipe us clean from it. I've been dealing with some hurt in my heart from others recently and I HAVE to repent and get that anger out of my heart before it exhausts me and hurts relationships in my life.

S - Surrender to the will of God. When you are in the will of God, purpose will protect you.

T - Timing is critical. The Lord calls you to do something (places a vision/dream in your heart) and then the devil comes right after and tells you to do it NOW. This is huge for me! I had not ever heard someone say this before and this is something I've been dealing with. For example, the Lord has placed dreams inside of my heart for several things, one of which is to be involved in a youth soccer ministry in the Woodlawn area. Well when I heard that from the Lord, I started trying to make it happen. But over the last couple of months I've realized it's not time for it yet. And I think I exhausted myself and stressed myself out because I thought it was supposed to happen but nothing was happening or working out. Doors aren't opening yet. I can see things building for it possiby but it's not time to start. And hearing this yesterday gave me confirmation of that. The enemy comes in and places thoughts in your head that if you don't do it now, it's never going to happen. You are going to lose your chance to have this ministry. But that's not true. John 7 talks about how the brothers of Jesus tried to get Jesus to go to Judea to perform his miracles, but Jesus replied to them that it wasn't the right time for him to go. We have to realize we aren't going to MISS the plan that God has for us. He knows our heart and what we want and need and as long as we continually surrender our life to him, he's got us in his hand. He is in control.

Pastor Larry also stated to, "Stop working FOR God and work WITH God." I won't speak for everyone but I know I get caught up in trying to do more FOR God, FOR His kingdom, FOR His glory. I know I have the right heart condition - I really do want to advance His kingdom - but I'm wearing myself out because I keep trying to do more for him or I keep thinking that I'm not doing enough. Ministry isn't supposed to be like that. We shouldn't ever feel like we aren't doing enough or aren't doing good enough in ministry. When we realize we are working WITH God, I think these thoughts fall off. I mean if he is working with me and something doesn't pan out the way I hoped it would, well God must have wanted it to happen that way. There is no regret. There is no let down. I know I have to remember this...daily.

I love my church and am so thankful to be able to hear great messages like this. I'm so thankful to Jesus for giving me that word yesterday. I honestly feel like some weight has been lifted off me from hearing these truths.