At Ease Like The Lotus ♡♡♡

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as my disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For my yoke is easy [to bear] and my burden is light" - Matthew 11:28-30 AMP

I am so happy writing this post, because the topic is REST. Walking through a very difficult last week, highlighted areas of my own heart where I am not completely at rest in the sovereign hands of the one who holds my life together. Even yet still, God as always proved himself faithful. That is one of the most beautiful attributes about God, He stays the same, even in the fragility of our disposition, in the middle of our fluctuating anxieties; and even when we go through deep waters. And although that aspect of God's character [His faithfulness] stays the same; my hope for you and I, is to come to a place where we are in complete surrender, enjoying total rest in God, even if the roof is on fire. So that we can enjoy the life God gives, and journey at ease....

Jesus asks us to exchange our life burdens, our religious rituals that provide no peace for his REST. Isn't that amazing? He asks that you take his yoke, and learn from him. How did Jesus conduct himself in stressful situations? He was in complete rest and at peace. Sometimes he slept, others times he prayed and other times his gentle and humble posture of heart helped him through "stormy" situations. When anxieties arise within you. When you are overwhelmed by fears and plans of the future? What is your response to the overwhelming burden of it all? If you believe that you were created by a powerful God, who created all of the stars and galaxies, called them by name. Set the boundaries for the ocean and tells the snow and rain when to come and go. And you believe that He is good and perfect in all of his ways, then you can trust that He is also in control of every situation that surrounds you or come at you. God is in CONTROL, that is the reminder that sets us at peace and at rest. And if you don't believe any of these, well you are ok to worry, I guess that means you control things :(

So when anxieties arise within you and the storms rage aggressively without restraint, ask the Lord to help you TRUST Him and let go of your own control. He owns the universe, and you can trust that nothing is hidden from his eyes, nothing is too far away from his reach. Someone said "a storm let's us know that even the sky screams sometimes too"  - witty and I love that perspective. But there is something much more Jesus offers, it is REST in him [amplified says, renewal and blessed quiet]. He gives it, ask it again and again. Let go of your burdens and take his yoke, for it is indeed easy and light. I pray peace over your heart as you go into a new week, every anxiety and burden that grips you will surrender to the mighty power of the ONE who sit's high above the heavens, has no rival, and is totally in control of anything and everything under his watch.

"For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him. And He himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe] - Colossians 1:16-17 AMP

                                 "May I live like the lotus, at ease in muddy water" - Unknown

Friend, this is my heart for you. Embrace the moment and leave all of the stormy things in the hand of the Father. His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe. I mean, JUST WOW!!!!

Love,

Shay