Walking into July -the 7th month of the year and it is a time to “rest” in that we have done what we could in the past season and the fruit of our labour is in God’s hands. We can now celebrate completion- Of tests, planning, toiling and any other stressful thing we might have experienced up until now! We planted the seeds in our life and now we get to reap whatever that is.
This post is for the believers, old and the brand new. It’s time to see the clouds break and the fresh air start to rise. We have had 5 years of grace to seek the truth, be honest with ourselves, face our demons and slay the things within that have held us back or held us down, be it fear, complacency, or just throwing a blind eye to the truth that is right in front of our faces. As a new day breaks and we are starting the month of July we have been blessed to realize that leaning on God in all circumstances is where the peace really is. As you may have noticed, it’s not like peace is a world movement currently but it can be for us within. Perhaps you have known that for a while or you are just brand new to this journey, I want to remind you or enlighten you that peace and joy are something that are given by accepting by faith that God has it all worked out for you as you lean into Him (Jesus to be clear), He will be directing you to whatever you need daily to work in your life and purpose in this current season. Although it is REST season we still need to maintain that rest state from the day we declare it. There is no end date to the maintenance program as it is a journey but we can declare joy and freedom the day we accept Christ as our saviour. We all need a saviour and the day we realize that is the beginning of “Happily Ever After”.
Don’t get me wrong, adjustments are regular and to be expected including pruning, changing directions, uprooting, tossing, planting and lifting heavy things physically, mentally and emotionally. Learning a new way of thinking and ultimately living but it’s all a practice in surrender and ultimately trusting God in all things.
Sometimes you need to “fast” to remember what you have and other times it’s to realize that you are better off with less. Less material, less striving, less crowd pleasing, less food, less training….. unless of course you don’t do any of these, then perhaps this message isn’t for you but for those of us who work hard and trust we know that REST was part of the plan from the start. After all, God rested on the 7th day because He saw that His work was good. Rest only comes after a season of doing the work, overcoming the struggle, beating the giant or overcoming a challenge. Sometimes you just have to look at your life and see that what God created in you is good, even the bad things that have happened to you or you have caused have allowed for growth and a deeper understanding of His grace and mercy over your life and others. Your story and your purpose is much larger than you know and His grace to put all the pieces together like only as a master builder/creator could.
Take a deep breath now! It is good.
So what do we do while in this kind of rest season?
Well, we don’t drop the ball on good routines, or healthy habits. In fact, this would be a great time to simplify these routines and declutter the ball and chain of survival routines that may be mastered in those heavy work seasons. Think simple, go outside, take the walk instead of hitting the gym super hard ( I understand that many hard training folks won’t agree but REST truly is part of a God ordained program). Go swimming, create an adventure weekend, whatever fills your cup and is rest for you. Personally, I love playing tennis or pickle ball, paddling on my paddle board or just going for a bike ride. I want to spend more time creating in some fashion and maybe even getting good enough on my instrument to perform a solo one day. This is a time to simplify our diets as well. Fruit and veggies are in full bloom so we excitedly enjoy all the vegetation and eat our healthiest and simplest. Pack an apple, some nuts and berries and hit the road. Boil some eggs and you are good to go. Grab a can of tuna and some fresh baked bread from the farmers market or better yet, go fishing and make a fire. Take your camera, your family or a friend or just go alone and you are set for another amazing year of memories and stories for the books. Remember, we are what we do on the regular, so if you want to be healthy and look and feel it, we need to maintain it and live it out, even in our season of rest.
We stick to our prayer routine, even just in thanksgiving because we don’t just pray when we are in a rut or in need but in celebration daily of His goodness in our lives. We fill ourselves up with daily wisdom ( reading our Bible) to stay filled with the truth, receiving our daily bread from the Father and keep a listening to Him for instructions on decisions, and where and how we should spend our time. Afterall, He created it all and most certainly knows best.
If you are still waiting on prayers for your health, your family, or your relationships, remember these verses and keep them close. God is working things out and it’s time to rest and believe.
Might as well start writing the songs, singing the praise and knowing that everything you’ve ever dreamed of is at your door. The only thing you need to understand is that there is only so much time in your day and now is the time to consider making the most important things the most important. There is a season for everything including the tears, the sorrow but with those come the glory days so rest this season in knowing the best is yet to come.
Worship in the Splendor of Holiness Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. [ Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. (ESV)
