Find Rest By Surrendering to Fathers Love

We Find Rest By Surrendering to Fathers Love

Entering into God’s rest is really what makes the Christian life work.

God’s rest is where we abide in peace regardless of life’s circumstances. It is also where we learn to not force life but allow God to unfold His plans and blessings to us. We don’t find rest by surrendering to Fathers Love because we have a tendency to try and be good enough to be loved.  The key is learning to break out of the condemnation-and-works cycle.

Condemnation-and-Works Cycle 

Newly saved, I worked as a waiter in a restaurant. I would try to have a good Christian testimony to the other employees. However, the cooks were always telling these dirty jokes. I would try very hard not to laugh. That would not be a good testimony, I thought. But sometimes the jokes were so funny I couldn’t help myself. I would go home that day feeling as if I had failed God, that He was mad at me, and that it might be a good idea to avoid His presence for awhile until He cooled off some. After all, that’s what I had to do with my dad growing up when he was upset with me.

I hadn’t yet learned there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. I would finally determine in my heart, “I will try even harder.” This would release me from the condemnation but put me back into works. I was set up to fail before I even began.

• Do you battle trying to be good enough for God’s approval?
• How can we break out of this cycle into daily resting in God’s love and presence?

Habitation

God wants a habitation, not just a visitation with us. How can we abide daily in God’s presence, even when we fail? This verse gives us a key.

Is.66:1, 2 — Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?  For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

There’s no house we can build for God. There’s no way we can build a testimony good enough, do enough good works, pray enough, nor fast enough for God to be happy with us. Because He is already happy with us.

All we can really do is open our hearts to love and let love in.