Resting In God

August 31, 2010

RESTING IN GOD

Scripture Reading

Psalm 37:7--"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:

fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,

because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."

Psalm 16:8-9--"I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at

my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefor my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth:

my flesh also shall rest in hope."    

One day, John went into the forest and became lost.  Unable to find his way out, he spent the night in the woods.  The forest was pitch black, and he heard all sorts of strange sounds.  John started to get scared, but then he remembered Psalm 37:7a.  "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him."  Remembering that verse, he trusted in the Lord and was able to rest in God.  To rest, we must trust in God.  In the physical sphere, rest is essential to our well-being.  In the spiritual sphere, resting in God is also an essential.

Turn to Exodus 33:14 and ask someone to read it.  God wants his children to rest.  We are the ones who need rest, and God is the one who provides it.  Patience is an indicator of rest.  When John became lost, he was able to stay calm and to find his way out.  Some "saved adults" are unable to stay calm.

When a bear cub is in the den with his mother and an intruder is nearby, the cub is able to rest in the fact that his mother will protect him.  Our lives should operate the same way.  Whether in a spiritual or physical sense, we should know that God will keep us safe.  We should rest in the fact that God knows everything and that whatever happens is for His best and for our good.

ACTION POINT:  Sing the hymn "Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting."

--Stephen Vaughan--