Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart – Rest
If you read yesterday’s blog post you know that the Lord spoke about being in a “holding pattern” but how even in the holding pattern He used the blog to spread His Word into approximately 80 more nations of the world to reach a total of 100 nations to date.
Later on in the afternoon, someone called with a message for one of our clinicians. The message was “Psalm 4:8.” Nothing else. Of course, the message peaked my curiosity and of course, I looked it up and the Holy Ghost used that short message to speak to me also about rest. Holding patterns and rest certainly have some things in common. I know that if God can use a holding pattern then He can certainly use our rest, God ordained rest, in many divine ways as well. Below are a few definitions of the word “rest.” I have highlighted those that especially spoke to me.
All else is the Word of God and some of what He has to say about the subject of rest. We could all say many things about rest and the need for it … but His Word truly contains all the words we need. These verses are good scriptures to “put in our memory banks” (as one of my childhood Sunday School teachers used to say). Hide them in your heart today before you need them in the night hours or moments when you feel overcome by weariness.
What does it mean to Rest?
Rest (noun) – The refreshing quiet or repose of sleep; refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor; relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs; a period or interval of inactivity; mental or spiritual calm.
Rest (verb) – to refresh oneself, as by sleeping, lying down, or relaxing; to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor; to be at ease; to be quiet or still; to cease from motion, come to rest; stop; to become or remain inactive; to stay as is or remain without further action or notice; to lie, sit, lean, or be set.
What does the Bible say about Rest?
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: ~ Isaiah 26:3-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. ~ Psalm 23:1-3
Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. ~ Psalm 116:7
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. ~ Psalm 62:5-8
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. ~ Psalm 3:4-5
For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. ~ Isaiah 30:15
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ~ Matthew 11:28-29
Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. ~ Jeremiah 6:16
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. ~ Psalm 4:8
My Prayer for you today
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Holding Pattern
On this day last year, I was in Tanzania. Today I am not. I can’t help but ponder it all as I see the FB notices from the team flow across my newsfeed.
I was reminded of this. On the way home, our plane flew in a holding pattern for over an hour because of a storm in Charlotte. When we were finally given clearance to land, it was an incredibly bumpy, scary experience. Truly I wasn’t sure in those moments that we would land safely. My Pastor says that what happens in the natural is also happening in the supernatural and really that is a picture of my life over this last year. There is a storm raging on every front. Not just in my life though…in the lives of most everyone I know. Because of the storms, many are in holding patterns, and we will be until given clearance that we are ready to take that next step of heading through the storm!
What does that mean for me? I feel I have a call to the mission field. But I feel just as strongly that right now God has me in a holding pattern – another season of surrender and waiting. I can’t explain it all, but I will wait. I will wait until GOD opens His next door for me if He chooses to open another one. But God hasn’t called me to wait and do nothing in the waiting. In the waiting, God has me doing other things just as dear, maybe even dearer, to His heart. He works to strengthen me, to make needed correction, and He highlights some of the others areas of my calling. He is even changing some of the desires of my heart to line up more closely with His own. This holding pattern is a season of waiting with His purposes and for my own good! I trust His work, and though there times I struggle to keep doubt out of my mind I do find my trust and faith growing stronger day by day.
Now, what does it look like for me? What does He have me do? Well for me, it looks like on my knees and into the Word. It looks like a surrender! (I am called to obey first and foremost). I obey, therefore, I pray and I pray. (I am called to pray). I read God’s Word and try to memorize. (I am called to “hide His Word in my heart”). I study the Word of God. (I am definitely called to study this Word). I write down what I study and learn, what touches my heart, what I feel God is saying to me (I am called to write), and sometimes I share what God reveals. I do this in Sunday School and in services occasionally, but more on the blog. (I am called to teach and make disciples – aren’t we all?). And when I am done, I turn the page of the Word, and I start all over again and again and again. (I am called to persevere).
The Bible says: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
The blog actually gets very few views. I sometimes wonder what difference any of it can actually make. But every now and then someone finds it. When they do, I know they have been prayed for, and they will come face to face with the precious Word of God – which Itself teaches us will not return to Him void. Waiting isn’t always easy but I find purposefully waiting because God has you in a holding pattern can be life-giving.
On this day last year, I was in Tanzania. Today I am not. But today someone visited the website from Zimbabwe. And with that visit today the Lord has allowed me to use the blog to “go into” 100 nations of this world and share the Word of God! Over 80 of them since coming back from TZ last year. I began to really focus on my blog/website again because I didn’t know what else to do with myself. He put me in this place and for ALL He has done, is doing, and will do – HE GETS ALL THE GLORY AND THE HONOR AND THE PRAISE! I love my Jesus so!!!
Job 23:10
Romans 15:5-6
Chosen – Matthew, Lenka, and Anna Maria
I saw this post on the web last night, and it took me right back to 2007 and an Orphanage for the severely disabled in Romania.
Visiting these children was such a beautiful but tough part of the mission…emotionally and spiritually. I was told because of their laws and disabilities they could not be adopted. It left me to ponder why God had them there and why He sent me there as a 46-year-old woman to see it all. I thought how as a young girl after my dad died I secretly dreamed someday I would have another dad that would make a choice to love and adopt me. Though it didn’t happen I was able to hope for that…but here they were and no earthly dad could ever choose them!
I laid in my room that night and I became overwhelmed and began to sob. As I cried the Spirit of God surrounded me and I talked to Him about three little children – Matthew, Lenka, and Anna Maria. Two confined in beds in conditions I was unaccustomed to with infirmities considered hopeless. One confined because though she was a perfectly normal child, her twin sister was disabled and they weren’t allowed to be separated. Oh, how these little ones had touched me and in their faces as I talked and sang and played with them…I saw the face of Jesus!!!
God and I continued talking into the night and I asked Him of the purpose of the lives they were given. When I did, He stopped abruptly and said, “Missy…I have chosen you. I have always chosen you. But why have you never chosen Me?” I said, “I thought I did choose you. 9/11/2006 in my dining room.” God said, “Yes, you chose Me as your Savior that day. But Missy why have you never chosen Me…as your Father? Why do you want an earthly dad more than Me?” That night I made a choice.
Needless to say, Romania was life-changing. Many times, like last night I think of three little children. Matthew and Lenka couldn’t see, couldn’t talk, and couldn’t even move on their own. They did little but lay there all day, every day. Anna Maria was a prisoner because of circumstance and would be held there until she turned 18 or her sister died.
Three tiny but chosen servants of God that He used to soften my hard and bitter heart. One day they will know of their fruit. Oh, how Jesus loves the little children. Oh, how He loves you and me. Make a choice today!!!
Psalms 16:11
Exodus 23:25-26
The Nina, The Pinta, The Santa Maria
Early one morning in September of 2008 I had a vision while in the church prayer room.
In the vision, I was standing outside of the church in a field. I was soon joined by others from the church standing alongside me. We stood and looked toward the road because there appeared a great body of water and three large ships docking. I thought, “Oh! There they are – the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.” We watched as people began filing off of the ships and walking toward us. Soon the field was full of people.
A man appeared and started putting everyone into groups and sat each group in a circle. The people were instructed to stay with the group they were assigned to. When the man turned around and I saw him, I knew it was Jesus. He would put people in a circle and then point out an individual standing with me to be over the group saying, “This group is yours.” And they took their place in the circle seeming so comfortable there.
I thought maybe He was going to feed the people because I had read the Bible stories about the feeding of the thousands and what I saw happening reminded me of that. I was excited about the miracle I thought was getting ready to happen. (Little did I know…)
He then pointed toward a group and said to me, “These are yours.”
I said, “What do you want me to do with them?”
He said, “Teach them!” and He walked on.
My heart dropped and I started to panic. I didn’t consider myself to be a teacher and what’s more, I did NOT want to be a teacher. So I ran after him and I said, “Jesus!”
He walked on a little further seeming to ignore me so I said it again a little louder “JESUS!”
He walked on continuing to make assignments. So I screamed as loud as I could, “JESUS! JESUS!”
He then turned toward me and I said as desperately as I could, “I am sorry, but I can’t…I am NOT a teacher!!!” He then said so gently but yet so very sternly, “You are now.” And then He pointed at my circle in such a way that I knew He was saying get back over there and take your place.
And then I was back in the prayer room.
Ephesians 2:8-9
