Til I Only Rest in Thee

Beautiful lake. Chilly weather.
Crackling Campfire. Laughter of Forever Friends.

A small glimpse into a weekend at the lake.

REST.

All 8 of us needed rest.
To turn off our phones, unplug our minds and to be still with each other and before the Lord.

This weekend had been planned several months ago. It was the only weekend out of this month and the next that we could all get together.

The Lord is sweet in His timing.

Our sweet Savior new what the weeks leading up to this time would hold- how tired our spirits would be and how much we would benefit from a weekend in the woods.

A month ago I sat in a worship room with high school and middle school students in Daphne, Alabama and listened to one of my best friends teach on a passage that is now so dear to my spirit.


Isaiah 30:15

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength".

Return.
Rest.
Quiet.
Trust.
Strength.

I can count on one hand the number of times since August that I have truly been "still."

Whether on a back porch talking to a best friend, tucked away alone in a booth at a local coffee shop or lying in a hammock at the lake...the times have been rare.

Do I mean that I have not slept or had ANY rest at all lately- no.

This type of rest is one where you allow your spirit to simply settle.
To allow our minds to simmer and stop swirling with to-do's and worries.

A sensation for our spirits that is foreign to many and such a rarity to a MARTHA like me.

Without rest I become:
anxious. worrisome. weary. easily aggitated. less likely to trust in the Lord.

I see in my own life that without REST and RETURNING to the feet of Jesus that my spirit changes.

This scripture has come to life in me over these passed few days.

I found that when I spent a whole 48 hours being still and resting that my spirit was rejuvenated.

My excitement for daily tasks for revived and my ability to submit to the Lord and find joy in obedience a delight.


This is short and sweet- but I ask you-
in your own life do you need to REST?

To be still with the Lord. Turn off life for a moment and recharge.

Make Time. Do it.

The Lord has convicted me this week that I do not need to allow myself to get to the point of almost brokenness before I submit to him and rest- before He has to fold the legs of this mindless sheep.

I need to RETURN more often and REST in the promises of Jesus that are good and true.

In quieting our spirits and trusting in the Lord we will find STRENGTH.

Not a day goes by where I don't need the infallible strength of King Jesus.

I pray that you rest in the promises of Jesus this day.

"If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision 'til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
'Til I only dwell in Thee"
((The Hymn. Brooke Fraser))


Many Blessings-