Christian Writers Circle

Psalm 62: 1-2 NIV 1Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

What does the word rest in God mean?

Do we go to sleep? No, it is not a time to sleep. Although I think of Elijah in the cave and realize it can be. I find rest in God relieves stresses of life, silences enemies of my soul and gives divine exchanges like peace for anxiety.

To hold steadfast in the LORD in this world, one needs to still himself in mind and spirit finding solace in God alone. This word came to me as I considered our key verse. It stunned me at first, yet stirred a desire to get hold of its truth in action. Living in days of terror and terror threats, we can find rest in God.

“Do not be afraid of sudden fear when it comes.” The words, “when it comes,” about popped off the page realizing sudden fear will come. Proverbs 3: 25-26 NASB Do not be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught. Let us stand on God’s promises and allow our soul to find rest in God.

Negative thoughts come to cause us fear and doubt, rob our peace and joy, bring confusion and panic. We must refuse negativity and stand on God’s promises for our soul to find rest in God.
These negative thoughts are enemies of our soul (mind, will and emotions). Take them captive to the obedience of Christ, 2 Cor. 10: 5 and receive rest for your soul through God’s word and by His Spirit.

Following are verses and comments the Holy Spirit taught me on God’s rest. I invite you to consider them with the Lord for your life.

Matt. 11: 28-30 Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…..
     I learned by the Spirit to take off my yoke that is hard and heavy and put on His yoke which is easy and light. It is a process relating to Christ, receive life by His Spirit and mature in Him.

Hebrews 4:10 NIV for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
Hebrews 4. An NIV Bible titled this chapter, A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God. I have tasted this rest and see in this chapter a depth to understand on rest God has for us. He can work through us as we rest in Him. My desire is to live out of this rest 24/7. How about you?

Psalm 37: 7 NKJV Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;…………
I expected this word was for the test I was experiencing, only to discover it is a life-long lesson.

The choice is ours to rely on God and find rest in Him or rely on self effort. As people of God we are not alone. He is there for us. Our soul finds rest in God.

I John 5:4 NIV For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

      I cannot get you off my mind since last month when I wrote to you of Father’s encouragement to us, that we who belong to Him are the evidence of HIM. When we simply believe, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God…given, pierced, and poured out for us…in love of us, we are ‘born of God’.
As I think of you amidst various circumstances in this earthly time of preparation, I pray you are abiding in Him – The Vine…living and dwelling in the life-giving secret place of His presence; in total belief of Him, right in the face of that which is contrary and not yet reconciled.
If we are ‘born of God’, His presence is where we belong. It is home. But when we live as His children, outside of this place prepared for us, we begin to show the effects of our desperate need for Him and what we were born for.
Think of the entirety this small phrase, ‘born of God’ touches.
Now take a moment in this exercise to find where you are at in the declaration of being, ‘born of God’.
– Go with Father to a mirror and look at yourself. Yes, right now…
– When you see yourself, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
Self hatred? All your mistakes? Voices that agree with the way people treat you? Things you heard from others as a child?
So in your thoughts, are you living ‘born of God’?
With the enemy exposed, bow on your knees in acceptance of Father’s love. Let Him wash over you and begin to restore you back to being ‘born of God’. With your sights solely upon Him, picture Him – your original design, feel the absorption and warmth of The Light of Life. Remember, He is the vision that without it we are all perishing. Just begin to say, “yes” to His good pleasure in creating you and you will begin to believe, not just for what is outside of you, but even for the completed work in you!
~ What is born of God in us: was spoken into being long before the earth was made. This truth of you cannot be avoided, voided, or return to Him incomplete. He must finish the amazing gift of YOU!
~ What is born of God in us: overcomes the world around us and within us causing a rest within, and giving the Holy Spirit free movement and control.
~ What is born of God in us: cannot be shaken in the midst of pain and suffering, upheaval and destruction.
~ What is born of God in us: grows when we feed it.
All this and more comes from the power of His resurrection life. If we desire to walk in it, we must throw off every hindrance that would so easily entangle what was ‘born of God’ in us. So come to Father God and let Him make you brand new.

by Judy Hitson

Isaiah 40: 31 NRSV Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Wait! Slow down! Not so fast!

Think of a baby learning to walk, taking that first step. In the beginning, the little one stumbles and falls but quickly gets up to try again. Before you know it, the child not only walks but learns to run. Then a fall can be more serious, from a bruise or scrape to a fractured bone at times. So too we begin our walk with Christ as a babe, some stumbles and falls along the way. We are blessed as we rely on the Lord, learning to walk and live in the Spirit to the full measure of Christ. As we consider the maturing process of a child dependent on their parents, it can help us understand the progression of spiritual growth depending on our Father in heaven.

On the topic of Maturity in Christ, I’ve written on the following aspects for you to consider, first an overview. Then we looked at Maturity in Christ through: Diet, God’s Word, Prayer, the Spirit, the mind of Christ, Spiritual Gifts and Bearing Fruit. In each of these facets, we discover our need to wait for the LORD to understand His perspective. Otherwise we run ahead with our own understanding(see Pr. 3:5-6).

When the LORD renews our strength, He gives us a divine exchange. When anxious in a situation, God wants to give us peace.

Phil. 4:6-7 is God’s Recipe of Peace for anxiety
Refuse anxiety like an enemy of your soul.
Thank God that He is with you.
Pray about the situation.
Receive God’s peace.

When we are anxious and proceed in a situation, our decisions will be earthly, of our flesh. When we wait for the LORD in the situation, He renews our strength by His Spirit, giving us His strength for our weakness. It is a divine exchange. Here are some examples from God’s Word:

peace for anxiety, Phil. 4:6-7
Spirit of power, love and sound mind for a spirit of fear, 2 Tim. 1:7
God’s peace for confusion, I Cor. 14:33
Rest for weariness, Matt. 11:28
Faith for doubts, Rom. 14:23

As we wait for the LORD and receive His strength, we will soar like an eagle in the situations of life to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint.

by

Kathleen Shore

Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Self lingered in disguise as my hungry, thirsty spirit pressed into His presence. Feeling the resistance, I cried out to Him, “Oh God, search me and know me…show me what you see in me…I want You to have all of me.”

Self-protection shrunk back into the closet and clung to the cloaks of counterfeit within my heart-house as The Light of Truth, like a fluid, a permeating aroma, a radiating heat, slowly seeped into every space. Nothing could stop the invasion. It painted the walls. It replaced the insulation. It lit the basement and the attic. It washed all the linens in a costly fragrance that removed the stench and even put love letters in my mailbox.

Like a child, peeking out to see if anyone was near by watching, I began to follow the whisper of His voice, calling my name. As He spoke just that one word, my name, over and over, the warmth of His Love overtook me and lit a fire in my heart-house. I could feel Life entering the cold, core of my bones. GONE…was the chill of the evil shades of gray. AWAKE…was my life to His fire of Love, now here to stay.

Volumes of revelation seemed to lift my sights in understanding of who He was, how He adored me, and to whom I belonged. Yet as much as I knew in that moment, the unknown of His Love Mystery was far greater, leaving me wanting more.

Then I heard Him say, “Look for the evidence of…”

The evidence of ~ My Love:

Is that you are patient, kind, you do not envy, you do not boast, you are not proud, self-seeking, or easily angered. You keep no record of wrongs. You do not delight in evil but you rejoice in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. My Love in you never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

The evidence of ~ Believing:

Truly I tell you! Signs and wonders will follow you. (Mark 11:23)

The evidence of ~ Waiting:

You are looking at Him. He is all your Hope. You are Expectant. You are blessed in the waiting. You are strong. You are not anxious. You continually find your salvation. The Lord turns to you in your waiting, and hears your cry. His name and renown becomes the desire of your heart. Compassion and justice is yours, because you wait for Him! (Psalm 130:5-6) (Proverbs 8:34) (Isaiah 25:9; 26:8; 30:18; 40:31; 51:5)

The evidence of ~ Trusting:

You ‘know’ His name. The Lord displays His might for you. You are very pliable in His hand. You have joy in your heart. You will not be shaken. You will not be put to shame. You will be delivered. You will attain all He has promised. You will honor His holy name with your life. You desire His Will being done, not your own. You are not deceived. You will have your full reward.

(Exodus 14:31) (Psalm 9:10; 13:5; 20:7; 21:7; 22:4-5; 25:2) (Rev. 22:12)

The evidence of ~ Abiding:

You are very restful. You are led by The Shepherd. You love to obey Him. You are planted of the Lord. You have clean hands and a pure heart. You bear the full fruits of the Spirit; Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness, and self-control. You cultivate a place within you for Him to dwell. You keep yourself separated for His holiness. His goodness and love follows you. His glory rests down on you and others notice it. You flourish. (Exodus 15:13; 15:17; 29:45) (Psalm 4:8; 15:1; 23:6; 24:3-4; 91:1) (Hosea 14:7) (John 15:1-5)(Gal. 5:22-23a)

The evidence of ~ Surrender:

Peace is The Prince of your heart. You live your life in light of God’s mercy. You offer yourself to Him as a living sacrifice, knowing this is your true worship. You do not conform to the patterns of this world, but through the renewing of your mind you are being daily transformed. You do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. You love to just be ‘your piece’ in His whole body. You honor others above yourself. You keep your zeal for Him. You are joyful in hope; patient in affliction; faithful in prayer. You share with those in need. You bless those who persecute you. You associate with people of low position. You do not repay evil with evil. You are not overcome by your circumstances. You have an opposite spirit from the world.

(Matthew 5:1-12) (Romans 12)

This is the evidence of Me.

“Keep seeking Me, and you will find Me.” He still whispers. “Swing wide the doors of your heart-house, for you are My pleasure. I love what I made of you. I will do miraculous things through you! I will do all I have created you for. Just let Me in and you will see the evidence of Me.”

by Judy Hitson

John 15: 8 NIV This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Imagine Jesus with you, speaking the words of this verse to you personally ………………………. What does it mean for you to bear much fruit, showing you are Jesus’ disciple to Father’s glory?

Each time I read John 15 and think about bearing fruit, I assume the fruit is people I lead to Christ. However, preparing to write this devotional, the fruit of the Spirit kept coming to mind. One evening while in bed thinking about this, I was compelled to rise up and write down what I heard, “Be fruitful through abiding in Christ. Taste and see the LORD is good, Ps. 34: 8. Think about the taste of the  fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5: 22-23.”

If you and I were sitting together as followers of Jesus, we could share from our hearts what He is saying to each of us. Let’s draw close in His presence to abide in Him, John 15: 4. To bear much fruit for God’s glory as disciples of Jesus Christ, we who are maturing in Christ, know this is something only God can do through us, by His Spirit who gives life. No one can accomplish it by themselves. Jesus says we can do nothing apart from Him, John 15: 5b.

As we mature in Christ, it is vital to know our hearts from His perspective to have clean hands and a pure heart, Ps. 24: 3-4. The following prayer is helpful to that end: Search me,
O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any hurtful, offensive or wicked way in me and lead me in the everlasting way, Psalm 139: 23-24.

There are lists in Scripture I learned to consider before the Lord for self examination. Mentors and Bible teachers taught me the importance of being holy as God is holy, to confess sin and walk in true repentance for the Holy Spirit to transform my life. I share from Galatians 5.

Gal. 5: 19-21 NASB Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

We see a stark contrast as we consider the fruit of the Spirit. It helps us better understand the fruit Jesus is thinking about in John 15: 8 that will create a winsome spirit to win souls for the kingdom of God.

Gal. 5: 22-23 NASAB 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self control; against such things there is no law.

As we recall the fruit of the flesh and Spirit in Gal. 5 and open ourselves to Holy Spirit conviction, He will lead us to confession and cleansing, I John 1: 9. Then we can surrender, yield, submit to and trust the Lord to change us that we bear good fruit by His Spirit.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit with life for us to be fruitful and multiply to the glory of God through Jesus Christ. Amen.

by Cathy Robinson

In a word of warning to those within the church who are sexually immoral, Jesus tells us that he will fight against them with the sword of his mouth. The sword is known to be the Word of God (the Bible), the sharp double-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12) Jesus will fight against sin within his church by speaking Truth. This is something that isn’t preached or spoken of often, but Jesus says it in his own words in Revelation, chapter 2:12-17. He then goes on to say, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

He also says that he “hates” the practices of the Nicolaitans in Revelation 1:6. The Nicolaitans were those who taught that spiritual liberty (grace) gave them sufficient leeway to practice idolatry and immorality. And again he says, “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

I am fearful when I read this. How long will we continue to be conformed to the pattern of this world? (Romans 12:2) When will we care to listen to what the Spirit says to the churches? The only way to think God’s holy thoughts is to read God’s holy Bible. The only way to stand strong in a morally weak culture is to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, which is done by reading the Word of God. (Romans 12:2)

Contrary to common belief, God is not winking at our sin. He is so serious about it that Jesus had to die (shed his pure blood and defeat death) in order to reconcile us back to Him. Jesus wants his bride (the church) to purify herself for his soon return. Although no man knows the day nor the hour, Jesus tells us we can read the signs to know that the day is approaching. The Bible is full of prophecy with regard to his return. Let’s not be slack as the day approaches. Let’s be sober and alert! God has a purpose for every single person He created. Seek Him to find out what His plans are for you!

If you don’t know the Lord, or aren’t sure if you’re going to heaven, you can read John chapter 3 to learn what Jesus says is necessary to have eternal life. John 14:6 is another very important verse that people need to understand. (Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”)

Because our culture is so anti-God these days it can be difficult to share such a serious matter, but this is TRUTH that is contained in Holy Scripture. Many people do not read the Bible, but it is God’s love letter to us! We wouldn’t fail to read a love letter from our significant other, but many fail to realize that this is exactly what the Bible is! It is LIFE, from the Author of LIFE! Read it and LIVE!