"Rest Well, Work Well"

(Part 2)

    "Return unto thy rest, o my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee" (Psalm 116:7).

     How often must we join the Psalmist in remembering and returning to the boundless generosity and provision of our Heavenly Father, and then experiencing the heart of rest from which we live our lives in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    A fallen world, a fallen devil, and fallen flesh tempt us to forget that "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).  Take a moment and ponder deeply the Apostle Peter's assurance of boundless provision and preparation for every moment of our existence.  In the past tense, Peter declares that God has already provided "all things" that relate to both outward and inward exigencies - "life and godliness."  We thus live from a basis of provision and the rest that always graces our hearts and minds when we know we can deal with whatever may come our way. 

     Again, however, we too often fail to remember how abundantly our Father has prepared us and provided for us.  We must therefore frequently say unto our souls, as did David, "Return unto thy rest."  This fact actually forms and informs a primary reason we write and send out these devotionals.  Indeed, knowing that our enemies seek constantly to foment turmoil in both circumstance and heart, we all need reminders that we are a superabundantly prepared and provided for people.  Nothing can approach or reach the shores of our lives beyond our spiritual capacity through Christ to meet and overcome.  "These things have I spoken unto you that ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation,  But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world... This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (John 16:33; I John 5:4).  Our hearts rest as we remember and affirm such blessed truth of "so great salvation," as provided by so great a Savior (Hebrews 2:3).

     Before ever we existed, God perfectly foresaw every moment of both blessedness and challenge we would ever experience (Acts 15:18).  He purposed to provide His Son and the Holy Spirit as the supply for all things and all times.  When we were conceived, our Heavenly Father faithfully fulfilled His purpose and determination to provide.  Thus, He has always been what we needed Him to be, and more.  Moreover, He is so now, in this moment.  We have all too often failed to see, to remember, and to affirm the Christ-provided abundance in which we live.  We may be missing it right now, and if so, the Holy Spirit and David beckon us, "Return unto thy rest, o my soul.  For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee." 

     It does not matter what we are presently facing.  The "Who" of this and of every moment long ago determined to be - "bountifully" - everything we will ever need Him to be.  This is truth.  This is peace.  And this is rest.  There is none other, and we need none other because no one has ever trusted in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and been disappointed for doing so.  And no one ever will. 

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
(I Corinthians 10:13)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."
(Romans 8:35-37)