Waiting in the Wings

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

Tag: rest

Worth Fighting For

Whisper His Name” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

{hearing} I will move heaven and earth for you. 

You may be battle-weary, beloved, and that’s because it’s time to rest. You’ve done your part, now it’s time for Papa God to do His! As you rest, the Father wants you to focus on His great love for you. There isn’t anything He wouldn’t do for you! Keep His love at the forefront of your mind when doubts arise. You may question whether God is for you or whether you are worth fighting for. But love always protects, and love never fails.

Make space for the Father to act on your behalf by resting and standing firm upon His Word. While we cannot mandate how God will move to fill His covenant promises to us, we can trust that He is true to His Word. He is for us and will not abandon us.

Where Does Our Help Come From?

“Whom Shall I Fear” by Meghan Williams, Dyed4you Art

One day, I was meditating on how rest can be a powerful weapon in the spiritual realm, and Isaiah 30:15 came to mind, “For this is what Adonai Elohim, the Holy One of Isra’el, says: “Returning and resting is what will save you; calmness and confidence will make you strong —but you want none of this!” I often hear people quoting another translation of this Scripture, “in quietness and confidence is your strength.” While these words are a needed reminder, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the last part of that verse—God’s people resisted the call to return (repent) and rest.

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The Weapon of Rest

“Faithful Victory” – by Meghan Williams, Dyed4you Art

Beloved, the weapons of war I have given you are mighty and unlike anything of this world. I call you this day to take another look in your arsenal for a weapon that is often overlooked and undervalued—the weapon of rest. Yes, there are times when you need to exercise your faith in an active, forceful manner. However, there are some wars that can only be won through quietness and confidence, the times when I call you to simply rest and trust in My Word. 

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Renewing Our Focus

“Be Still” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

Psalm 46:10 (VOICE) “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.

When we are yoked with our Creator, there are moments when we’re not going at the same speed that He is. When we are out of alignment with Him, we can feel it as tug upon our soul. Sometimes that tug is gentle, and at other times—when we are insistent in our striving—that tug is much more firm. “Stop striving,” He beckons. “Stop pulling against My yoke. It’s time to come and sit at My feet and just rest. It’s time to remind yourself of Who is leading.” 

This call is reminiscent of Psalm 46:10, where God tells us to “be still and know” that He is God. When we dig deeper into the Hebrew of this text, there is beautiful insight into what God is asking us to do in the moments when we feel that tug upon our souls. The command “be still” in Hebrew is raphah (Strong’s H7503), which means “to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.” One definition according to the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon is “to leave off anything, e.g. a work begun, Neh. 6:8… Psalm 46:11 ‘leave off your own attempts and know.’” 

Think of a field hand diligently working the soil in a field. His supervisor suddenly calls out to stop work and take a break. So the field hand immediately stops, lets go of the tool in his hand, and walks away to take that break. In much the same way, when God tells us to “be still,” He’s calling us to stop striving over a matter in our lives and come into a place of rest.

Yet there’s a second layer to this call. God asks us to “be still and know” that He is God. Not only must we stop striving, but we must also be intentional to realign our focus on God. In Psalm 46:10, the Hebrew word for “know” is yada (H3045). Yada alludes to a type of knowledge that involves an intimate perception of something. Yada is also used euphemistically for the intimacy between spouses. (Genesis 4:1 says that Adam “knew” his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore their son Cain.) When we really comprehend a person or matter, we obtain intimate knowledge. We gain a unique clarity of perception.

In 1 Corinthians 13:11-12, Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (NKJV). When we feel the call to “be still and know,” God is calling us to realign our focus in that moment. This is a precious gift, an opportunity for us to enter the Holy of Holies and have a “face to face” moment with Him. This is a call to reconnect with the Source of Love.

When we are striving, there is a misalignment in our spiritual vision and our misperception of love concerning a particular matter. Clarity can only be found when we’re seeing the matters of life the way that God sees them. By the flesh, we have a cloudy, distant perception of life, but with God, we have access to a full level of disclosure. 

Are you anxious and afraid over a matter? Do you feel alone and without answers or help? Or perhaps, you feel exhausted and weak, facing a challenge in your life to which you feel at a disadvantage. It’s time to “be still and know.” It’s time to reconnect with your Creator and remember that He has everything under control. Let His love and peace wash over you, and allow Him to give you fresh revelation for the road ahead.

True Rest

“Wings of the Spirit” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

Hebrews 4:1 (TPT) Now God has offered to us the same promise of entering into his realm of resting in confident faith. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it.

When the children of Israel were delivered from the bondage of Egypt, God promised that His Presence would go with them and give them rest (Exodus 33:14). In Hebrew, the word “rest” in this Scripture is nuwach which has the concept of settling down, dwelling, and remaining. No longer would they be strangers in the land of their affliction nor would they be strangers in this new land where their father Abraham was a sojourner; God was bringing them to a place they could call home and the place that He would abide with them.

In Hebrews 4, Paul alludes to this concept in light of the redemption that Christ has brought us. He warns the redeemed not to follow in the pattern of those who wandered in the wilderness and miss out on the rest that Christ has purchased for us. But what does this rest in Christ look like? A clue can be found in the two types of rest that Paul alludes to. 

Not only does Paul mention a nuwach type of rest (being settled, dwelling, and remaining in a place) but also another Hebrew word for rest, shabath. Shabath implies a sense of completion; God began the process of creation on the first day, and it was on the seventh day that He stopped creating because His work was complete. Nothing else need be added, so God could sit down and appreciate all that He had done.

We are being called to find our resting place in Christ. Just as the Israelites were redeemed and removed from Egypt, we too have been redeemed from the power of sin and bondage through the Cross. God is saying, “It is finished! It is complete! And your Promised Land of rest in the Everlasting Arms is accessible now in the land of the living!” When God promised the Israelites rest, technically the battle for the Promised Land was still in sight for them; but they allowed their fear over those looming battles to prevent them from attaining God’s promise. From their perspective, their redemption and fight for freedom wasn’t complete. 

Therefore, we must be careful to resist the urge to let the battle against the flesh keep us from entering into our resting place in God. For the beautiful part of our redemption is that God comes into His rest with us as well. Just as the throne of God and His dwelling Presence went with the Israelites in the wilderness and into the Land, so God’s abiding Presence keeps us at every step. The battles ahead are already won. The only effort required on our part is to listen to the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is our redeemer who will do all the work and all of the fighting on our behalf. It is God alone who is responsible for bringing us into our completeness and fullness of Christ.

Exodus 33:14 (NKJV) And He said, “My Presence will go [with you], and I will give you rest.”

Catch the Rhythm

“Heartbeat of Heaven” by Meghan Williams, Dyed4you Art

Beloved, there can be a fine line between living your life in a state of striving and operating from a place of rest. The difference between striving and rest comes when you try to create a rhythm in life as opposed to quieting yourself and simply finding it. I created all life to exist in the flow and rhythm of my Spirit. From the waters of creation, My Spirit has guided all things to flow according to My will. It knows My perfect pattern and plan by which all life can flourish and prosper.

Just as a drummer must hold the rhythm of a song in his or her heart and mind to execute it, so you must press in for the rhythm of my Spirit to live by it. My Spirit stands ready to usher you into your place of rest and abundant life in Me. Just as it was in the garden, I long to walk with you and guide you through every moment, day, and season of your life.

Beloved, will you draw near and grasp ahold of what I offer you? Will you listen for the sound of My Presence moving through the garden of your heart each day? Let your spiritual ears be opened, that you might catch the rhythm of My Spirit and live by it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens….

Galatians 5:25 (VOICE) Now since we have chosen to walk with the Spirit, let’s keep each step in perfect sync with God’s Spirit.

Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Just Be

“Selah (Divine Interlude)” by Meghan Williams, Dyed4you Art

Just be, beloved. There is a time and season for all things—time to learn, to do, and to explore in life. However, in every moment, no matter what activity it contains, I call you to simply be. Breathe, live, and move in Me, beloved. Pause to recognize how My Spirit fills you and gives life and purpose. 

In the midst of the chaos of life, it can be easy to lose sight of your connection and existence in Me. Therefore, I desire that you would make space in your days and weeks to simply pause and recognize that I Am always with you. When you come into a place of stillness in your being, you make room for My Presence to fill that space. Anxiety, doubt, and other things that grieve your soul can be replaced the Eternal One, Am your anchor point. I Am present in every moment, ready to empower and keep you through all things. Whether you take a moment, a day, or a season to pause before Me, you can be certain that that time is never wasted. Such times of rest encourage your internal focus to shift back towards Me. I Am able to refresh your soul, renew your vision, and give you spiritual fuel to continue your life’s journey. 

Remember, beloved, that by My very name, I AM, I define what it means to exist. While I give you purpose to with run with and ideas to pursue, I never want you to lose sight of the fact that I first and foremost created you to simply be. Therefore, release the yoke of heavy burdens. Recognize and comprehend what it means to have your existence within Me. Make room in time and space for Me and watch as My Presence comes to fill all things.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT) For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Psalms 46:10a (TPT) “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.”

Acts 17:28 (VOICE) For you know the saying, “We live in God; we move in God; we exist in God.” And still another said, “We are indeed God’s children.”

The Joy of Eternal Life

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Beloved, know that I have given you fullness of joy because I have granted you complete access to My Presence. Resist the urge to become discouraged when the earthly realm shifts your focus and you feel out of alignment with Me. Simply stop, take a breath, and seek Me. Look to the Cross and remember that the way has been paved back into the Garden of My Presence. Your old life is gone and I have made you new. The newness of life that you now have is eternal and lived by faith, and daily I call you to discover what that means.

There is grace upon grace upon grace as you learn how to remain in the flow of abundant life. As much as possible, resist feeling pressured or rushed by the earthly realm. While the world, at times, may seem to be overpowering, it is I, your God, that holds power over all. Victory is not waiting for you in some distant future; victory is available now through My Spirit.

Now is the time to come into My rest. Simply learn to “be” in Me. I created you for freedom, therefore, feel free to live, and move, and have your being in Me. You exist that I might delight in you and that you might delight in Me. Holy pleasure is found as you cease from striving and remain at rest and life-union with your Creator.

Therefore, I say, take of the fruit of the tree of life—My Word. My Word holds the answer to every question you have, it is the antidote to whatever ails you, it is your vision and wisdom, and it contains all of the promises I have given to you. By partaking of My Word—My very nature—your inner life is renewed daily. As your thoughts and perspective become as My own, the uncontainable joy of life will come bursting forth from within you.

John 10:10 (VOICE) The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance.

John 4:14 (NLT) But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Resting Place

Hebrews 4:1 (TPT) Now God has offered to us the same promise of entering into his realm of resting in confident faith. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it.

Beloved, let Me be your resting place. No longer need you be weary and heavy laden, working for that which has already been purchased for you. Instead, come to Me and learn how to be at home in My Spirit. For I have created you that you might abide in Me and I in you. Just as an earthly husband and wife find a mutual sense of belonging and security with one another, so you too can find an even deeper level of belonging and security in your union with Me.

Resist the urge to try to earn your way into My Presence for your place in Me has already been assured. Cease from striving, and instead, learn how to just be in Me. While works through the law once had its place and served a purpose in the plan of redemption, remember that righteousness by My Spirit has now come to bring about perfection. Therefore, partner with Me by simply letting go. Allow My Spirit to strengthen, empower, and undergird you. Let My wisdom, counsel, knowledge, and understanding be as your own. No longer need you rely on your own resources anymore; I Am your life and I desire you to have that life in full abundance.

Just as the dove was sent from the ark to find a resting place, know that the dove of My Spirit will alight and remain upon you when you are in a place of rest in your soul. Trust Me and trust the anointing that abides within you. Know that you are no longer alone and wandering in this world. The light of My Presence is always with you and indeed, it is here to bring you into your rest.

Exodus 33:14 (NKJV) And He said, “My Presence will go [with you], and I will give you rest.”

Respond to My Call

Luke 10:41-42 (TPT) The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

My Bride, do not be troubled by the cares of this world. And resist the urge to fret over the actions (or inaction) of your brethren. For I am calling all to arise, trim wicks, and burn brightly with My love. If you expend your energy immersed in worry and fear, your time will be spent striving and accomplishing little. And if you are primarily concerned with judging the behavior of others, you risk falling asleep and becoming lax in your own spiritual growth. I desire that you would simply rest in Me and flourish. Abide in Me, and bear the fruit of My Spirit for all to see.

You will accomplish more for My Kingdom when your focus is to rest at My feet and eat from My hand. Allow Me to impart all that you need, and empower you for every good work. As you yield to the work of My Spirit in your heart, you enable Me to flow through you in greater degrees. Let your singular focus be about how you can create more room for My presence in your heart; as a result, you will automatically make room for My Kingdom upon the earth. Less of you, more of Me, beloved. And as you open the door to more of Me in your life, the bright light of My love will impact the very people who you are interceding for.

Remember, it is My voice that awakens love in the hearts of My people. It is I who atones and brings righteousness into the earth. I shout from heaven with the voice of a trumpet, calling all to cast off the old man and awaken to the new. Be diligent in casting off the weight of the old man, which seeks to obscure your perception of who you are in Me. Be transformed by My voice, and renewed by My love. Open your heart to Me, and watch as My words tumble forth from your lips. Awaken, arise, and respond to My call.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (TPT) And he has taught you to let go of the lifestyle of the ancient man, the old self – life, which was corrupted by sinful and deceitful desires that spring from delusions. Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness.

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