Saturday, 01 January 2011
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My Word for the New Year - 2011
Last September I went to a Women's Retreat. During the time I was there I really felt like God was speaking to me. Not like an audible voice that they show in the movies. He was speaking to my heart and soul. It was only one word that I felt like he was telling me: REST.
What is rest? Well, I went to the dictionary and guess what there were many definitions but the one that stuck out to me was “peace of mind or spirit and free of anxieties.” 2010 was definitely the year of anxiety and worry for me. Little did I know that when God gave me the word "REST" that I would need it more than ever. I started having a rapid heart beat. I went to my doctor and the ekg showed something but he did not explain what. He just sent me to a cardiologist. After a slew of tests I have rapid heart beat anxiety induced. Right now the doctor is just watching it and I go back in 3 months. AWESOME!!!
But since I got the diagnosis I have been trying to figure out how exactly to reduce my anxieties. I am exercising. I am changing my diet. I am talking with trusted people. I am turning to God to show me what "REST" is.
I have been digging into God's word to see what rest was for God. God rested on the last day of creation and made it a holy day in Genesis 2:2-3. He commands us to rest and have a Sabbath day with him in Exodus 20:8. Jesus took time to go off by himself to pray (Luke 6:12).
Matthew11:28-30 says"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (The Message)
So in following Jesus' example of spending time with God, that is where I am starting. You can never go wrong with spending time with God and in God's Word. A goal I have for the 2011 is to read through the Bible in a year. I have done this before but not recently. I actually started this last week, but I am not worried about specific dates and such. I just want to spend more time with God and learn to rest in Him. A tool I am using is http://www.biblestudytools.com/ to keep track of where I am reading. I also have a group of friends who are reading along with the goal of reading the Bible through in a year, but not all of us are doing the same thing.
I know I can not find any rest on my own. Life is just to hectic and painful lately. My prayer is Lord teach me to find rest by being with you. Help me do this because there is no way I can do this on my own. Thank you for your grace which you freely give daily. Help me to find rest when there seems to be no rest around. Help me to walk with you and learn to live in rest.
Go to http://www.faithbarista.com/ for more of what God is sharing with others.
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Comments (11)
REST. I LIKE that! Thank you for the link. I appreciate it. Anything that makes Bible study more easy, I'm all for!
@SealedbyGrace - You are welcome.
I've always found it easier, not just in practice but on the emotion/spirit too, to pick a theme for the year...sort of something to keep my focus on, and then think about small ways I can nudge myself closer to that end. I've had such a crummy year - few years in fact - that this year the phrase "lovely" jumped out at me via Philippians 4:8. I love your theme of Rest - and I truly do hope that you have high mountaintop rests in praise this year!
(I'm at a new blog if you'd like to do more a back and forth - you really are a wonderful person. I'm at myyearof.wordpress.com)@Tookshire - This is the second time I have had a theme before. I often have looked back and saw the themes that God has shown me part way through or end of the year.
My theme was rest a few years ago.
That turned out to be a year in which I was forced to rest as I dealt with undiagnosed symptoms of sleep apnoea.
In the middle of last summer I, too, got the message, "If you rest, you
will heal." I've been trying. A ruptured Achilles tendon has helped
some, but I'm still working at it. Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't
it? :) May you continue in your journey of rest.
Rest is not something our culture teaches us much about. Your post reminded me of a wonderful book on this subject that you might really enjoy. It's called "The Rest of God" by Mark Buchanan. Praying that you will find His perfect rest in this year and that anxiety will be something you only see in your rearview mirror! Blessings!
ShaunieI love your word for the year - REST. It's on my top 3, too!
" I just want to spend more time with God and learn to rest in Him."
This is a beautiful heart place to be reading and resting from.
May God bless your time with Him, Katie! Grateful to start the new year off together. Thanks for jamming.
I tweeted this out!
@faithbarista@revelife - Thanks Bonnie! Wow tweeted... I am grateful for starting the year off with you also.
@Shaunie Friday - Thanks for the book link and prayers.
@Crechemom - Love you Zoe. I remember when you dealt with all of that.
@sherylo - Thank you! Hope you find your rest also.
Such an awesome word. What an adventurous quest with God. My word is refresh. Think we're on the same journey :D God Bless you as you find unique, creative rest tailored by God just for you.
@JeriTaira - Thank you for the wishes! Refresh does sound close to rest...