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Exodus 20: 8-11 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
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When we violate any of God's like principles, we will pay a price. God placed this commandment as number four - not number one hundred. He considers it important enough to carve it into stone for us to read and follow - we would do well to pay attention! Prior to my back injury, I was mom of two children, wife, and working three part time jobs as an R.N. (Oh, yes, I put in well over 40 hours a week!). On top of that, I sang in a quartet with many engagements each month, and tried to be involved in all the school and church activities. I was violating this commandment big time! I didn't have time to slow down......until May 1, 1989 when I suffered a back injury at work. I have learned (and relearned) that when I resist God's principles, He will discipline me- because He loves me that much. For me, I had resisted my "Sabbath rest" far too long. Oh, I went to church, I just didn't take time out to rest in Him. My breakdown started as physical and soon became emotional, spiritual, financial and marital. I no longer had my work to hide in - I was flat on my back, with nowhere to go. God got my attention finally, and I could look back and see the years I had wasted by ignoring His Sabbath rest. He did not let my self- destructive tendency go unchallenged. I realized that I needed more of His peace, joy, tenderness, love, wisdom, direction and compassion. And He wanted time with me, to share His heart with me - to have a relationship with me. It was the first time I really understood that.
God didn't even work seven days- He set the pattern for us by taking the seventh day to rest. We can't expect to go without being restored by Him. Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He intends for us to have this interval of rest. We take this time and remind ourselves;
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Psalm 139: 1-3 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. |
He shows us where to rest and when - He desperately wants time alone with each of us. |
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Psalm 103: 13-14 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; |
If we don't listen, we will wear out. we are made of dust - and even dirt needs rest! (Ask any farmer) |
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Wait on Him. Don't go faster than He intends. Find His pace and keep up with Him. This is fellowship. |
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Gal 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. |
I love how that is translated- "keep in step" with the Spirit. We are not to lead the Spirit and run ahead of Him, nor are we to lag behind Him as if we didn't really trust where He is going. |
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Psalm 126:1-2 A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
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Time set
aside for God is never lost nor wasted time. He knows how much of
n impact time alone with Him will make. It is when we stop working
so hard that He does His greatest work in and through us.
In a sense, when we are with Him, time stands still. we can see things with a new perspective. We understand things about our lives we never could grasp before. God brings things about for us in our lives- it is not what we do. It is all Him...and we can rest. |
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Take this time of rest and place everything in His hands and look around. this is what the Sabbath rest is for. This is what intimacy with Him is all about. |
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Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. |
He looks into my heart. And I get to look into His! |
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Psalm 25 :14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. |
This is not an optional thing. God knows how badly we need it. He knows we need to be restored. Pick a place and meet Him there. |
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Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." |
This Sabbath rest will not be easy to keep. Satan knows that if he keeps us trying to do it everything on our own strength, we will run dry. When we come into this rest, He sees and supplies our needs. |
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Phil 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. |
Let's choose to let Him be the manager of our lives! |
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FATHER, I PRAY YOU WILL TAKE AWAY MY DESIRE TO ALWAYS BE BUSY. FORGIVE ME FOR THE TIMES I HAVE RUN FROM YOUR SABBATH REST. I PRAY NOW TO SIT IN YOUR PRESENCE AND BE REFRESHED BY YOU. I OPEN MY HEART AND LIFE AND SOUL TO YOU, AND I LONG TO SEE YOUR HEART. I DEDICATE A SABBATH TIME TO YOU AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK- TO BE FED BY AND REFRESHED BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE. THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR MY REST, AND FOR LEADING ME TO IT. THANK YOU FOR EVEN FORCING ME INTO IT WHEN I AM TOO STUBBORN TO STOP. I AM IN AWE OF YOUR NEVER-ENDING LOVE!! IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
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| God's Love Letter|
Personal Preparation|
No Other Gods|Empty Images|
Guard Your Mouth
|Honor Your Parents| You Shall Not Murder|Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery|
If you are
interested in further study, I recommend "The Ten(der)
Commandments" by Ron Mehl. (Thank you, Beth, for loaning me that
book!!!) 9185 Since 5/11/2000
Sabbath
Rest
