WHEN OUR SOUL FINDS ITS REST (II)

‘And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.’ Exodus 33:14

Last week, we began a series on finding rest in this world. News abound of the spread of diseases, terrorist attacks, impending wars, bush fires and hurricanes; fear has gripped the hearts of many. There is a growing restlessness and people are trying to seek ways to find rest and peace for their souls. Interestingly, no matter what we try to do, our rest lies solely in God. Like a bird, we must find our way back into His nest. To find rest:

4. NURTURE YOUR SOUL WITH THE WORD OF GOD
What can make your soul strong, powerful, stable, unruffled and undisturbed? It’s the Word of God in your heart. We must be ‘…nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching…’ (1 Timothy 4:6). What will sustain you is the Word of God. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus says, ‘It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 say, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.’ Jeremiah 6:16 reads, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.’ One of that ancient paths is the study of the scriptures; in it we will find rest.

5. KNOW THAT NOTHING IS NAKED IN THE SIGHT OF GOD
Our dealings have nothing to do with men but with God. Nothing is hidden from Him. The Psalmist declared, ‘Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day’ (Psalm 139: 7-12). God knows all and has all the answers, so let Him be your model. Don’t let people push you to run a race that could result in your death. Most of the things we do are done to please others, not ourselves.

6. REDEFINE SUCCESS IN THE LIGHT OF GOD
When success is about you and the possessions you can acquire, you will never be satisfied and peace will always elude you. In your strive for success and significance, whose glory are you seeking? 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, ‘So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God’ (NIV). True success has its foundation and essence in God; it is found in yielding completely to God and following His path. Our souls truly rest, when we align with the purposes of God and do not engage in mindless worldly pursuits. God’s kind of success gives us strength, stability and equilibrium in a restive world.

As you go into this week, commit to nurturing your soul with the Word of God. Therein, you will find the blue print of the Master’s plan for your life and you will find rest for your soul. God bless you.

#gregerhabor