Seeking Rest in the Father’s Love
Isaiah 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.”
At one time in my Christian walk I would awake at 5:30am and go to my church to pray each day, then study the Bible from 8 until noon. Almost everyday it seemed like I would try to fast. Unfortunately most days I ended up buying a box of Captain Crunch cereal and eating the whole thing for lunch! I desperately wanted to have Smith Wigglesworth’s anointing, to be a spiritual giant.
I sought intimacy with God but I sought it wrongly. I was trying to build God something through my works, to build an anointing and enough sacrifice to please Him. I had not learned to simply receive what He freely offers through humility and brokenness.
Father desires for us to know Him but because of misconceptions we have about who our Father is, we often end up discouraged. Our efforts end up not bearing the fruits we had hoped for. We try to work hard for Him, develop something for Him. We try to do something rather than resting in His love.
However, all things are made by Him so there is nothing left to do. We’re just supposed to be with Him.
The very act of trying to do for God ends up keeping us from Him.
Ps.131:1-2 — Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.It takes humility to let go of our own efforts and simply receive but it brings a glorious freedom.
Zach.4:6 — Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.
Ps.127:1 — Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…
Let us labor only to enter into His rest. (Heb. 4:11)
