Christian Writers Circle

A Lifestyle in God’s Rest
by Judy Hitson

Psalm 37:7a NASB Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him…….

As I contemplated on this lifestyle, the hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” written by Helen Howarth Lemmel, kept coming to mind. Meditating on the lyrics gripped my heart. The three stanzas of this hymn spoke to me of what a lifestyle in God’s rest looks like. Jesus must be first, not anyone or anything else.

When worry, fear, anxiety or doubts pierce your thoughts:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

There was a time in my life when I was desperate for God to deliver me from areas of bondage. A friend’s church brochure caught my attention for a series starting that week on deliverance and inner healing. Thankfully, I followed the prompting of the Spirit to go. When the teacher said, “God works when we are desperate,” it shook me to the core. In a state of desperation, I found that to be true when I received prayer during ministry time. It was a miracle to be set free from bondage, walk in the light of God’s promises and embark on a life lesson. That is, learn to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, not rush ahead from earthly perspectives to make fleshly decisions.

Too often my mind is on things of earth. The Lord exhorts us, Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth, Col. 3:2.

It is a process to surrender and yield ourselves to the Lord. We receive  profound blessings as we learn to walk and live in the Spirit. This leads us to a lifestyle in God’s rest.

Here are some questions that come to mind for us to consider:

Do I think of the Lord when I wake in the morning?

Is He on my heart through the day?

Do I walk with Him, talk with Him and hear what He is saying to me?

Is He my first love?

Is He on my mind when I lie down to sleep at night?

Prayer: Father, a lifestyle of rest is what You want for Your children. For this I ask by Your Spirit who gives us life. In Jesus name. Amen.