Striving, Resting or Both

מְנוּחָה

Rest

”Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter into that rest (of God)-- to know and experience it for ourselves– that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience[into which those in the wilderness fell] For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power – making it active, operative, energizing and effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the “breath of life(soul) and [the immortal] spirit and of joints and marrow[that is, of the deepest parts of our nature] exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eye of Him with Whom we have to do”
Hebrews 4:11-13(AMP)

Have you ever read through the first part and wondered, what does that even mean to rest in God? In my journey with Abba(relating to God as Father), I have often wondered what He meant. I ponder it, then life comes and goes, it goes to the back burner and then once again it circles back into my thoughts. Last year was the revelation moment that I had of it and since then Abba just keeps on popping other verses in relation to it. Walk with me and I’ll explain. Are you striving in many areas of

your life, like striving to be a great parent, an awesome friend, a dutiful daughter, perfecting character flaws etc.? Did you know we aren’t even supposed to strive in those areas?!

The only place in the Bible that is says to Strive is to, Strive to enter into HIS REST.

First let’s look at some definitions because if you are similar to me, I know the words and what they mean but when we look them up, it just seems to make it a bit more clear! Strive>[verb] to devote serious effort or energy, Zealous>[adjective] marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal: filled with or characterized by zeal, Exert>[verb] to put(oneself) into action or to tiring effort, Diligently>[adverb] in a diligent manner: Carefully, industriously(Diligent>[adjective] characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort: Painstaking).

Now let’s look at the first verse with those definitions

“Let us therefore be marked by fervent Partisanship(strong adherence to) for Jesus/God and put ourselves into action/tiring effort to devote serious effort or energy in a careful and industrious manner to enter into the Rest of God– to know and experience it for ourselves – that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience[into which those in the wilderness fell]. Wow, we devote so much of our energy/effort into trying to be a good parent, an awesome friend, dutiful daughter/or son to our aging parents, good child of God that we can wonder why we end up so tired and exhausted!

Let’s Selah(pause and reflect) for a moment

Matthew 11:29 &30(AMP) reminds us, ”Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle(meek) and humble(lowly) in heart, and you will find rest – relief, ease and

refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet – for your souls. For my yoke is wholesome(useful, good) –not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant; and My burden is light and easy to bear. Ohhh to be in relief, ease and refreshing and blessed quietness. I can imagine what it would be like but we don’t just have to imagine, we get to know and experience it!

Let’s Selah again for a moment.

Last July, I began to realize what it meant. I would spend time with him, He would reveal to me a passage of scripture then shortly when I was finished I would receive a text regarding something of an issue. What was amazing was He had already given me a portion of scripture that was related to that. I had a revelation that as I stood up, I was royalty, the daughter of the Most High King and I carried myself that way. In my confidence and authority of Christ, I prayed the scripture over that situation and then continued on in my day, leaving it to Abba. I had the opportunity to know AND to experience His peace when I prayed what Abba revealed to me and then lifted it to him.

It was not mine to carry anymore.

So striving or resting, it is both in the right context. We get to devote serious energy into being at peace handing over the worries, or challenges of the day to Abba knowing He will work all things out. After that they are not ours to carry, we trust in Him and learn that He does have everything and we watch how he works all things together without us worrying about it. As the months have passed, I have continued to learn what it means to enter into His Rest. Giving Him my plans, learning to walk by the Holy Spirit and surrendering...