Your Only Battle

Did you know that there is only ONE battle that Jesus tells us we should fight?

There is only ONE thing that Jesus tells us that we should fight for. He says there is only ONE thing that we should FEAR. The only battle we are supposed to fight is the battle to remain in REST. The Bible tells us that we should fear nothing except not being at rest. Why do you suppose that is? Why do we have it backwards? Why is it that  everything that Jesus told us not to fear we fear, but the ONE thing that He told us to fear we don’t fear?

Perhaps, we should first look at what REST is and what it is not.  Rest is trusting in God’s word.  Rest is knowing that God’s word is God’s truth. Rest is knowing that you can depend on God to do what He promises He will do.  Rest is knowing that God loves YOU and has not forgotten about you. Rest is believing that God is your source and not this crazy, upside world we live in.  Rest is enjoying your life in the midst of the chaos. Rest is refusing to open the door to doubt and unbelief when the storms of life are crashing all around you. The opposite of REST is unbelief.  Unbelief simply means you don’t believe God’s promises. You don’t believe that God is faithful to do what He says He will do. Unbelief leads to worry, doubt, anxiety and stress. These are all deadly emotions which destroy us from the inside out.

Science is continuously validating the wisdom of God’s word. There was a Hungarian heart specialist by the name of Hans Selye back in the 1930’s who first began piecing together the pieces of human stress.  His upholstery lady noticed something odd about the seats in his office she was redoing. She noticed the edges of the seats were worn out rather than the back of the seats. His patients were sitting “on the edge” of their seats while waiting to see him. This indicated to Dr. Selye that his patients were living a fast paced life and this was linked to their heart condition. He also noticed that his patients always parked their cars “nose out” as opposed to “nose in”. This way they were prepared for a quick get away. They couldn’t stand even the slightest delay in their time.  He began to see a lifestyle indicative of people who have heart conditions.  He concluded that stress causes our immune systems to fail.  Dr. Seyle simply validated through science what God had already told us in His word. God had the solution long before Dr. Selye.  His solution has always been for us to remain in REST.  In Hebrews 4:9-11 God says “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Notice that God rested on the 7th day from all of His work, not because He was tired but because He was finished!  The number “7” signifies the completion of work/rest.  Did you know that YOU and I are the generation that saw 07-07-07?  This is amazing!  God is sending us a very clear message my friend about REST. He wants us to take it very seriously!  The only thing we are to labor in or to fear is not being at REST!  Think about it. When you have unfinished work it leaves you with a sense of anxiety and restlessness.  When you step into the finished work of Jesus you find rest.  Live your life knowing that God has finished it. This will cause you to relax more in your work and with your family.

Worry will stop God’s blessings from flowing into your life.  It is very destructive!  Look at your life and the areas you worry about.  The areas you are worried about are the very areas there is no grace flowing in.  These are the areas you STOP God’s grace from flowing into.  Zechariah described God’s flow as golden pipes coming down from Heaven.  When you worry you squeeze the golden pipe of God’s blessings and stop them from flowing.  Every time you worry about someone you are harming them.  Worry is opening the door for Satan to work.  Satan is a rebellious and restless spirit.  We have it backwards.  We think that to worry about someone is to love them. NOT TRUE! We must have a whole new mindset.  We must reprogram our mind to think like Jesus and not the world.  We can give attention to someone without worrying about them.  The less you worry about an area of your life the more God’s grace flows.  When you’re worry free you can also see things more clearly and with the right perspective.  Worry clouds your judgment and causes you not to think reasonably.  God’s grace glows in the worry free areas of your life.  All Satan can do is give you lying symptoms and try to convince you that God is not working in your life.  The devil seeks those he can devour and destroy.  He can only devour those who are worried and anxious, those who are not carefree.  When you enjoy your life in the midst of your problems you are demonstrating to God that you trust Him.  Jacob is the perfect example of this.  Jacob had a covenant relationship with God. He was Abraham’s grandson.  He went through famine for over 10 years in Canaan. He also thought his favorite son Joseph was dead.   Can you imagine what Satan must have been whispering in his ear?  “If God has promised you all of these great things Jacob then why are you going through all of this?  Why is the only thing you see is dust and famine?”  Jacob doesn’t know that God is working behind the scenes of his life. He didn’t know that all of Egypt’s wisdom came from his house.  He didn’t know that his son was running Egypt.  He didn’t know that God was preparing a greater place for Him.  Are you in a Jacob situation right now? Are you being tempted to doubt God’s promises to you? Are you wondering where God is? God sees YOU!  He is in the same place He was in when he restored Jacob! God is no discriminator of people. What He did for Jacob He will do for YOU! God is preparing a place for YOU that is greater than what you had or have now.  Don’t question God.  Jesus is your strong redeemer.  Even though we often lose things because of our own poor decisions and stupidity Jesus is our strong redeemer and has purchased it all back and more through his death and resurrection!  Speak God’s promises over your life and focus on Jesus!

Rest will give you your best progress.  You must fight to be peaceful.  This is why the Bible says to FIGHT the good fight of faith. You don’t have to try to “worry”, because worry is a negative emotion that comes very natural to all of us, but to stay peaceful during a crisis requires effort.  It requires you to dig your heels in and fight!  During these times you must FIGHT not to get anxious, worried or step into the dangerous realm of unbelief.  Faith is God’s territory. Unbelief and doubt belong to Satan.  You don’t have to know everything and be in control of it all to be in faith. Faith requires unanswered questions. You are simply NOT supposed to have all the answers and know it all. As a matter of fact, many times you won’t have any control and the solution God provides comes totally out of left field.  This is because God wants you to know it was HIM…not you!  He wants you to know that He is your source and you can depend on Him.  Whatever you need to know God will let you know and what He doesn’t let you know is for your best interest.

 The greatest expression of your faith is to be in REST.  Jesus rose on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.  Sunday is the first day of the week for a reason.  You are supposed to start your week in rest so that His rest will empower you to work the remainder of the week.  God never designed you to worry.  You get your best ideas when you are at peace.  This is why 3M implemented “Blue Sky” day, a day of rest for the employees to just look up at the sky and be at peace.  This day inspired the multi million dollar idea of the “sticky note.”  That million dollar idea came from a biblical truth.  When you obey God and follow His principles He causes you to be at the right place at the right time with the right idea.  God wants to bless you because He loves YOU!  God does not have love for YOU…God IS love!  Unlike people, God does not judge you based on your behavior. Receiving God’s love into your heart is the healing and restoring power that you need, crave and desire.

Start today my friend. Fight to remain in rest and receive God’s love and grace. 

God Bless You,

Love,

Sherry :-)

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