A few weeks ago I took part in a 4 hour Sabbath Rest Silent Retreat, sponsored by Atlanta Community Ministries and hosted by Becky. This was my second experience and it was again, life enhancing.We were led into to write on a rock that which we desired to get from God's presence during our time of silence. I was led to write "Resting on your promises." The rock was meant to be carried with us and used as a reminder, a point of reference to bring our mind back if it started to wander from that place of rest in God's presence.
My body was so very tired and I was so looking forward to this time of relaxing and just "being" in a beautiful, safe surrounding. I was determined to head to see the waterfall that I could not find during my first visit. When I got turned around in the directions, even with the map in my hands, I knew that I was tired and remembered that I was in God's presence; He knew what I desired and what I needed the most. I surrendered my will and headed in the direction in front of me.
I ended up at the edge of a gentle river, with an empty bench, right in front of the water. God knows how much I love water and I felt this was His gift to me for this afternoon. I let me sore body sink into the bench and I drank in the beauty of the moment. I was prompted to put my feet up and really relax. As I did, I put my backpack in one corner of the bench and my feet over the railing of the other side. I laid my head down on my backpack after a while and just totally and completed allowed my body to "relax."
After just a few minutes of just laying there, my mind did start to wander: "I had to leave the retreat, pick my husband up from work and then have him drop me off at the airport (because his car was in the shop) - it would be rush hour by the time I pick him up! I had fly to New York and work a trip to somewhere on the west coast -where was I going tomorrow anyway - San Fran or LA?"
SHUT THE NOISE, LINDA MICHELLE! is what I told myself!!
I held my rock tighter in my hand and began concentrating on what I desired from God during that time - "Resting on His Promises." As I corralled my thoughts back to a place of peace, I asked, "OK God, what does it mean to rest on your promises anyway? What are your promises?" The thought rose in my spirit, "OK, your promises are Your Word. Your Word is scriptures in the Bible."
And just as gently as the water was flowing in the sun on that river, the sense of the Holy Spirit rose in my spirit - "what are you doing right now, Linda Michelle? I said inside of myself, "I'm laying my head on my backpack, resting." And I then heard "What is inside of your backpack that you are resting your head on?"
Tears started flowing down my face as I suddenly realized that I was resting my head on my Bible - God's Promises - literally!! The stress and tiredness and joy and thanksgiving for the revelation mixed in with my tears. I was learning, yet again, how to "Rest On God's Promises" - literally and spiritually.
My body melted into a comforting nap, right there beside that gentle river. More revelation came to me when I woke - ".. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads my besides the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake...."
On my way back to the main building, God led me right past the waterfall I wanted to see!!! And I was even able to take another short nap on another bench overlooking it!! How awe-inspiring is that?? How much of God's love is that???
I encourage you to take time to rest on God's promises. Whatever you may be going through right now, He has a promise that will meet that need. I also encourage you to take part in the next Sabbath Rest Silent Retreat. Contact Becky of Sabbath Rest Silent Retreats, at http://sabbath-rest.com/default.aspx. "A time to rest, pray, and listen for God." You will experience for yourself this precious time of renewal and revelation.
Read something that Joyce Meyer wrote that fits here too:
"If you are troubled and upset, worried and worn out about all the changes that need to be made in you, why not enter the rest of God? Struggling won't change you - neither will frustration or worry. The more you rest in God, the faster you will see change. If the canvas struggled under the artist's paint brush, the painting would never get finished. The canvas is perfectly still, totally submitted to the artist's wisdom and creativity. That is exactly the way we must be with God. He knows what He is doing and how to do it. We should believe in Him and enter His rest."
(Joyce Meyer - New Day New You!)
Rest now.
Be In Courage.
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