If you read part 2 of “Finding Your Place in this World,” https://releasedtofly.com/finding-your-place-in-this-world-the-rest-of-the-story-part-2/ then you know that your place of rest is God’s promised land for you. Is it even possible to reach this promised land of rest?
Only if you can escape the trap.
In this digital age, we are bombarded with tons of nearly useless information, which ranges from the trivial and mundane, to the barely important. This constant onslaught of words, images and ideas force us to contemplate over—and make decisions about—a million things that aren’t worthy of our thought.
It nags for almost constant attention—trapping our minds—and it drains our efforts. Our time and mental energy are wasted. Mission accomplished.
If we are to have any possibility of reaching our promised land of rest, we need to think about where we are, who we are, and why.
Without taking the time and effort to really ponder over these questions, we have little chance of withdrawing ourselves from the data trap that confronts us.
And we’re destined for a life of staring into a smartphone. (Lord, help us!)
Unless we snap out of it, and use our minds for what God wants us to think about, we are forfeiting our God-given right to rest in Him.
Take a moment to let that sink in. Your rest is a God-given right.
The world doesn’t have any rest to offer us—not anything real, or anything secure. (And even if did, someone would sell it on Amazon!)
As believers, we know that only God gives rest to those who are His, and to those who understand why He gives it. Our problem usually originates from not fully understanding what this life is really about.
So let’s take some time to think outside the box.
Let’s think—and see—with a sense of eternity.
For countless many, this short life on earth is all they will ever know—the only blessing they will ever experience from an Almighty Creator. They can’t perceive anything beyond, because really—none of us know much—until we know the One who knows everything.
Once we know God, through Jesus Christ, He gives us the ability to reach beyond ourselves—to see beyond this frail existence, and beyond who we are. We see who He is.
And what do we see? That Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of all. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the beginning, and the end—of us, and everything.
You could look at Jesus Christ this way: He is the framework that completely supports and surrounds you, and your life is the structure being constructed within.
Paul preaches it so well in Acts 17:24 through 28:
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being…”
The Lord—the amazing architect of your life—is involved with each and every detail, if you allow Him to be.
Some may think that this is just silly, wishful thinking.
But in reality, it’s kingdom thinking—allowing the Spirit of God to elevate you to a better viewpoint—much higher than the ground-level, unbelieving world view.
We are Kingdom people, and we are able to see our lives from God’s viewpoint—when we follow Him to that place where we can see.
When we follow Jesus, we leave all to follow him.
Because it’s not only about the journey, but it’s also about what we choose to leave behind.
For the new nation of Israel, just emancipated from Egypt’s tyranny, they had finally escaped generations of slavery. That was the good news—they were free from bondage.
But they soon realized that they now had a new Master to follow. They were beginning to meet Almighty God up close and personal—and they discovered that they didn’t know Him very well.
Because they didn’t know Him, they often didn’t trust Him—they disbelieved His promises, doubted His instructions, became cynical over His provisions, and ultimately rejected His commands.
It’s no wonder that the majority refused to go into the very place where they would finally find their long-awaited rest.
They wandered for forty years, and God’s presence was still there with them. He took care of them with provision and protection.
But by denying the power and leadership of the Almighty One, they lost out. Their life was not what God had planned for them.
They held on to their old way of thinking. They settled for a life without rest.
It was the next generation who claimed their promises from God—by believing Him and following His commands—and crossed over into their place of rest and peace.
Spiritually, it is the same for us. We can trust the Lord to lead us, grab hold of His promise of rest, let go of our old way of thinking, and follow His leading—or we can submit to doubt and fear.
When we refuse the leading of our Master—the Lord, who leads us into all good things—what can He do with us? When the Lord can’t lead us, we end up staying long-term where He never intended for us to stay—out in the wilderness.
We plod around in circles, looking down at our feet, searching for that rest which can no longer be found, or claimed.
Meanwhile, God Has a plan—a perfect plan. He knows the journey, and He knows the way to bring us through. But ultimately, the choice to follow His leading—and take possession of what He has already given us—is our choice alone.
We must leave our old lives—and our old way of thinking—behind, to go in search of our new place in God. If we attempt to keep a one-handed grip on our old life—and our old way of thinking—we will not reach the place of rest God has given us.
We must let go of the old—and refuse to pick it up again—to discover the new.
It’s also crucial that we understand our position.
It’s about acknowledging—and living within—the position that is already ours. Our position within Him—His framework—is our position of rest. It’s a place of confidence where all is right—because God is right—no matter what the circumstances look like.
Genesis 13:14 through 17 describes how God positioned Abraham, within his journey of promise:
“And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are — northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
The message appears to be in two distinct parts: 1. “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are…for all the land which you see I give to you…” And 2. “Arise, walk in the land through its length and width, for I give it to you.”
Lift up your eyes and look. Now, walk.
The message, as it was for Abram, is ours today as well—on this journey that we walk, by faith—before God. We might say that seeing represents our believing, and walking represents our steps of faith in action.
Every step that Abraham took through the wilderness, was one step closer to the fulfilled promise of possession. Every step of faith he took activated the promises of God, and new territory became his.
Although we’re not in a literal desert, it is much the same for us now. Outside the framework of our place in God, there is nothing but vast wilderness. Tough place to live.
But every time we focus on—and “walk” within—the framework surrounding us, the resting place become our reality. By our faith.
One of God’s purposes for our place of rest is that it becomes a place for others. Our land of promise is able to be enlarged, extended and shared with many, many other believers.
“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.” Isaiah 54:2-3.
As with the promised land of old, our “land” will also provide a place for many others to inhabit, as well.
Remember, God is after our faith. It isn’t really so much about the place where we are, as it is the faith we use to get there (and stay there). When we allow it to be stretched, our resting place in faith becomes a place for others to receive blessings from.
So, acknowledging and living within our promised position of rest in God is essential to discovering our true potential—what He has purposed for us to do, and who to be—from before the foundation of the earth was laid.
Can you focus on, and walk within, the framework of God? Can you rest in faith—in the assurance that God is the architect of your life?
You can—if you truly believe that He is who He says He is—the Creator and Completer of all that you are.
Think with the sense of eternity.
Your response to His leading—today—will determine all of your days tomorrow.
- To trust Him more, is to know Him more. Seek Him first, not last. Through His word—the Bible—as the first and final authority, He is going to be the answer to every situation that you have. Make seeking Him your priority.
- Trust God, and believe that you have rest within His framework—even if your situation looks chaotic and unsettled. Know that your God-given right to rest must be claimed within yourself. Rest originates within you, through faith in God alone—with your focus on Him—not your circumstances.
- Whenever you see His leading, follow. In time, you’ll see changes to the design of your life. Your situation will begin to mold to—and eventually become the structure for—God’s purposes. You will see it, in time—if you give God permission to have His hand on it.
- God’s provision or answer for your situation may not be what you were expecting—but trust Him anyway. Rest in what you don’t fully understand, because the Creator of the Universe doesn’t make any mistakes.
There is a resting place for you. Your position within your journey. Your life within His Life. Your strength within His framework.
Behold Him there—the Prince of Peace.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
