Forgotten? Or Never Learned?

I was talking to two sweet friends before Sunday School this morning. Sipping coffee. Talking about plans for our Sundays. Laundry, couch-time, naps: all made it into the mix. And then a very interesting concept was unearthed. We began to discuss how guilty we sometimes feel about just being still or not accomplishing anything from time to time simply because we are resting. And why is that? I think that our generation has been programmed to feel lazy if we aren't constantly checking something off of a list, or pushing hard toward the next big thing, or striving to be up-to-date on every major world news event. From a very young age, I can remember my mom encouraging me to be independent. And so goes the story with most of my friends. All of my closest friends are gainfully employed, living in their own homes/apartments, dreaming big and making plans. We have all been taught to be those people. And I am truly grateful. I think our parents weren't offered as many opportunities as we have been given, so they have played key roles in encouraging our success in life. Birthing a generation of busy bees and big dreamers.

So, welcome to our dream lives. And our dilemma. With the big plans come the worries, and the deadlines, and the booked planners. Our days are filled with appointments and errands. Guided by our plans and our paychecks. And somewhere along the way, we have forgotten how to rest. Or perhaps a greater tragedy: we have never learned.

I believe that God has blessed most of us with incredibly abundant lives. We have all we need and most of what we want. But how many days do you sit for longer than 30 minutes, dedicating your time to praising the One who makes it so? How often are you silent for more than an hour? How long do you even allow silence in general? If you're anything like me, you are failing in the area of rest.

Resting in God requires much more than being still, but it starts there. In the stillness, you become aware of your need to be filled with the Holy Spirit... of your inadequacy and gratitude for grace... of your love for Him through Christ. It is there that you hear from God. It is there that you obtain a posture of reverence. It is there that you honor God for your life of abundance. And whatever comes after the silence...whatever comes after the stillness...whatever comes after the rest becomes endurable because you have simply been with the King.

I'm still learning to rest. Join me?

Genesis 2:1-3: "So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation."

Matthew 11:28-30: "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Abide.

{Oh, the blog-silence. (I seem to apologize a lot for that...)}

The past few weeks have been full of sweet moments. So many, in fact, that if I try to remember them all, I will inevitably miss the sweetest ones. So, take my word for it: February was good stuff. God has been teaching me so much. About rest, and life, and people, and the plans He has for me. All of which I have been fervently seeking to be faithful in. That's all I want. All I want from this life is for Him to be proud of me as His daughter...glorified as I live and love and serve. Among the things He's teaching me, He has brought me back to one word over and over and over: ABIDE.

The word 'abide' has been defined as the following...

...To wait patiently for.

...To withstand.

...To remain in a place.

...To continue to be sure or firm; endure.

...To dwell or sojourn.

You find this word a great deal in Scripture, more specifically in the New Testament and in Christ's teachings...

In John 15:9 Christ says, "For as the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. So abide in my love." Earlier in that very same chapter, in verse 4, He says, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me." In 1 John 4:16, John states, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..."

Over and over I see this call to dwell in God's love...this affirming truth that if He is who He says He is, and we know Him as we say we know Him, that this abiding is part of each of our lives as believers. In order to offer sweet and tangible proof of our faith...in order to bear fruit and live lives worthy of the good news...in order to live as God created us to live: one with Him.

Are you abiding in Him, dear friend? He so deeply wants you to do so. To wait patiently for His plans and His return. To withstand all that is against you as He stands with you. To remain in a restful, content place of peace with Him. To stand firm in His power. To endure with perseverance the race that you are running. And to dwell in His love.

Let His love seep into your heart. Let His power be yours. Abide in His love.