The Covenant Center

I'm not sure how to begin this communication. I know that one of the predominant words in my life these days is REST. The Scriptures says: "Strive to enter rest." (Hebrews 4:1)

Rest. What does that feel like? Well, for me it is letting go of the controls, taking my hands off of the steering wheel, or free falling out of an airplane, without a parachute. Rest. How important is it to enter into Gods' rest? Where is it on the list of His priorities?  In Deuteronomy 12:10, He tells Israel that when "He gives you rest" that then they will 'live in security' and they will safe from all of their enemies.

Can you imagine such freedom? Perfect security, no more fear, complete peace of mind and heart. Wow!

In Psalm 95:7-11, we are told not to "harden our hearts, as at Meribah." (Exodus 17:2-7) And God said, "They are a people who err in their hearts. And they do not know My ways...therefore they shall not enter into my rest."

Rest, true confidence and and courage, are first and foremost issues of our hearts. Can you imagine? God is offering us, his people, complete freedom from anxiety, from worry, from carrying burdens of any kind. He is offering to us a lifestyle of confidence and peace and joy.

What, then, would keep us from entering into His rest? What would we have to let go of in order to receive this rest. FEAR. We would have to let go of fear.

"He came to deliver those who were in slavery, all of their lives because of their fear of death." (Hebrews 2:15) Fear of death, or in other terms, we have a fear of loss, fear of seperation, fear of emptiness, fear of loneliness, and maybe even fear of freedom. Fear of all these things that give the enemy the hooks that he finds in us. What would life be like if he could not find a trigger in you?

Rest. How do we get there? For me, it is baby steps, allowing my heart to be broken, and still pursuing. Allowing my hard heart to become tender and making hard choices. Allowing the hunger of my heart to forage further and believe that He will meet me in this place. And, HE DOES! And as I sit before Him and His Word, I can now feel the life of His Words saturating both my heart and mind. And I am beginning to learn how to live in His precious gift of rest.

Whatever the cost, He is worth it.

'And He rested on the seventh day, from all his work which He had done." (Gen. 2:2)  'And there remains a promise, of entering into His rest..' (Hebrews 4:1)

There is an invitation, an invitation to begin to live LIFE, real life, walking through each day with Him. I want to let go of everything and anything that will keep me from this place and this quality of relationship with my God. There is nothing and no one more important. And so, I am sharing with you this precious truth that I am learning, of entering into His rest.