ENTER INTO HIS REST
Just as Satan spoke through Peter to try to stop Jesus from obeying God’s will (Matthew 16:23), he will speak through other people — even your closest friends and loved ones — to try and discourage you from following God’s will. They’ll say things like…
…“It can’t be done.”
…“Are you sure God told you to do that?”
…“Your situation looks hopeless, you might as well give up.”
…“I don’t see how you will ever get out of debt.”
These voices will cause you to rebel and reject the voice of God like the children of Israel did.
After all, God had done for Israel — the miracles He had performed in delivering them out of the hands of the Egyptians, leading them, feeding and providing for them during their journey — it is hard to understand why they listened to the negative report of the spies instead of believing that God would drive their enemies out as He had promised.
We wonder how they could possibly doubt God, yet there are many Christians today who react the same way. God has given us a written record of the great miracles He has done on behalf of His people. We have seen and experienced His love, provision, and healing power. But when we face circumstances in our lives that require us to act in obedience to God’s Word, our hearts become filled with unbelief just like the children of Israel.
Paul warned the Hebrews:
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God…“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. (Hebrews 3:12,15-19, NIV)
The word “rest” referred to by Paul here is not referring simply to a place of physical rest from all our labours. It is not a place where we are free from the problems and cares of this life. It is referring to that powerful spiritual dimension where those who enter have taken full possession of their inheritance.
It is a place of peace and security — freedom from fear, worry, and stress — even in the midst of great adversity. It is a place of blessing and provision, a place of power and victory over our enemies, a place of joy and contentment, a place where we have ceased from our striving to walk in our own strength and are walking in God’s strength. Enter into His rest today.
Make this declaration:
I will enter into God’s rest today. I will experience peace and security. I will be free from fear, worry, and stress despite the circumstances around me.
