With so much burn out in ministry we need to understand that there needs to be seasons of rest. The ideal type of ministry is to listen to God and only say and do what we hear and see Him doing. It becomes an easier and more prosperous ministry. As the grapes lie dormant for a season and then produce the sweetest wine… we can do the same. Our time of rest can be powerful.
Abraham received the greatest covenant of the Old Testament. He was asleep during most of it. He laid out a sacrifice of a heifer, goat, and ram along with a turtledove and a pigeon. He cut the three animals into two pieces and kept the vultures away. When the sun was going down Abram fell into a deep sleep. The Lord showed him how his people would be enslaved for 400 years. A flaming torch and smoke passed down the path of sacrifice and God laid out the promise of the nations borders. None of this happened while he was fighting the buzzards away. It happened while he was resting. (see Genesis 15)
Jacob spent so much time striving. He came out of his mothers womb striving. He strove with his twin brother for birthright and blessing of inheritance. Years later on his way back with his family to the promised land, he arrived at Penuel. He sent his family on ahead and was left alone for a night. An angel (or the pre-incarnate Christ) wrestled with him until day break. (see Genesis 32) After this experience Jacob mellowed. He began to rest in the promises of the Lord. As an old man he entered Egypt years later to live in the land of Goshen. It was a special land set aside in the midst of a great empire just for him and his family. It was a place of rest for him as he watched his children’s children play and live in this special place.
The apostle John was left on the isle of Patmos. Here he received one of the greatest revelations of the New Testament. Just when we think we may have been put on a shelf, God walks through the door with new purpose for our lives. We must learn to celebrate rest. We don’t need to apologize for rest. Faith and trust will help us to celebrate rest.
In the beginning of the book of Genesis, we find God creating days. It tells us that the evening and morning were the first day. The day began with evening. This is the way God created it. Our day begins with rest. This is a new normal for us. To change our mindset to see that God wants us to begin our days with rest, will be a little difficult for most of us. In our culture we celebrate labor and works more than we celebrate the importance of rest. The reason we sometimes fail to have victory in the daytime may be because we haven’t learned the value of rest in the night.
What can we accomplish during the night? Or better still, what can God accomplish in us during the night? Scripture tells us that God opens the ears of man and seals his instruction during the night. (see Job 33:15-17)
Our time of rest is an opportune time for God to speak to us and to give us direction. While we are asleep He can give us dreams and even place understanding into our hearts about things we were confused about when we went to sleep. I have experienced this and have heard testimonies of others who have went to sleep unsure about things. Often to our surprise we have awakened with confidence and new understanding. Our sleep time is an important time of our day. It is vital for the rest of our day as we meet the challenges of the morning. His mercies are new and fresh each morning. In the night season He has prepped us for the coming morning. What a wise and wonderful God we worship.
I have always liked Psalm 127. It begins by telling us that unless the Lord builds the house, and guards the city, all is vain. It goes on to describe painful labors. Painful labors are when we rise early and retire late. This is quite the opposite of how we have been taught. We honor those who work extra hours. We honor those who get up early and go to bed at midnight. God honors those who take time to rest and allow Him to work. An old word used much in the past by the church is, Providence. Providence can be pictured as the big hand of God just stirring itself around in the affairs of man. That’s what we want. We want His input in our daily work.
God often speaks instructions to us during our waking hours. But, we cannot limit God to only speaking to us during the waking hours. Job tells us the reason God instructs us during the night is to keep us from the grips of pride. When we are asleep and God speaks to us we have nothing to do with it. We cannot take any credit for anything other than simply committing our sleep to Him. He also gives us such powerful dreams and visions that it changes our conduct. In Psalm 127:2 it tells us that God gives to His beloved, even in his sleep. This is beautiful. The God of all good and perfect gifts gives to us even in our sleep. We have so underestimated the power of sleep. We have not honored or celebrated rest. Let’s embrace a new normal of rest.
When we retire in the evening it would be good to focus our attention upon the Lord. The Church has pushed Bible reading for early morning and made countless people feel guilty who prefer reading of the evening. Could it be that reading of the evening is more beneficial? We were taught that to wait until evening was like giving God the leftovers. However, if we now understand that evening is the beginning of the day, we are giving God the first fruits. Wow! How powerful truth is in setting us free. For all of you out there who have felt condemnation for not getting up an hour early each morning to read…. be free. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ (see Romans 8:1). Many of our little neat ideas about study and prayer are tools of condemnation. As the Lord has birthed in your heart to commune with Him, follow Him instead of the ways and programs of man. Each of us must receive instruction from the Lord. He has designed the night for you to position yourself with Him to change the nature of your coming day. How beautiful is the Lord and all His ways.
I have a friend who struggled for years with feelings of condemnation when he awakened each morning. When he awakened he felt so void of God and His love. Although he was a part of ongoing cutting edge ministry, he battled with feelings of being out of touch with God each morning. I have felt this way some mornings but not to the degree my friend has experienced this.
A solution for this is to commit our nights to God. As we fall asleep we need to turn our hearts and all its affections upon Him. Fall asleep with pillow talk between you and Jesus. Talk to the Shepherd instead of counting sheep. Adore Him and overwhelm His heart as you fall into the arms of the Lover of your soul. If you awake during the night continue to do the same. A new kind of normal will form into a new habit, as you continually receive from Him even in this precious time of rest.
Abraham received the greatest covenant of the Old Testament. He was asleep during most of it. He laid out a sacrifice of a heifer, goat, and ram along with a turtledove and a pigeon. He cut the three animals into two pieces and kept the vultures away. When the sun was going down Abram fell into a deep sleep. The Lord showed him how his people would be enslaved for 400 years. A flaming torch and smoke passed down the path of sacrifice and God laid out the promise of the nations borders. None of this happened while he was fighting the buzzards away. It happened while he was resting. (see Genesis 15)
Jacob spent so much time striving. He came out of his mothers womb striving. He strove with his twin brother for birthright and blessing of inheritance. Years later on his way back with his family to the promised land, he arrived at Penuel. He sent his family on ahead and was left alone for a night. An angel (or the pre-incarnate Christ) wrestled with him until day break. (see Genesis 32) After this experience Jacob mellowed. He began to rest in the promises of the Lord. As an old man he entered Egypt years later to live in the land of Goshen. It was a special land set aside in the midst of a great empire just for him and his family. It was a place of rest for him as he watched his children’s children play and live in this special place.
The apostle John was left on the isle of Patmos. Here he received one of the greatest revelations of the New Testament. Just when we think we may have been put on a shelf, God walks through the door with new purpose for our lives. We must learn to celebrate rest. We don’t need to apologize for rest. Faith and trust will help us to celebrate rest.
In the beginning of the book of Genesis, we find God creating days. It tells us that the evening and morning were the first day. The day began with evening. This is the way God created it. Our day begins with rest. This is a new normal for us. To change our mindset to see that God wants us to begin our days with rest, will be a little difficult for most of us. In our culture we celebrate labor and works more than we celebrate the importance of rest. The reason we sometimes fail to have victory in the daytime may be because we haven’t learned the value of rest in the night.
What can we accomplish during the night? Or better still, what can God accomplish in us during the night? Scripture tells us that God opens the ears of man and seals his instruction during the night. (see Job 33:15-17)
Our time of rest is an opportune time for God to speak to us and to give us direction. While we are asleep He can give us dreams and even place understanding into our hearts about things we were confused about when we went to sleep. I have experienced this and have heard testimonies of others who have went to sleep unsure about things. Often to our surprise we have awakened with confidence and new understanding. Our sleep time is an important time of our day. It is vital for the rest of our day as we meet the challenges of the morning. His mercies are new and fresh each morning. In the night season He has prepped us for the coming morning. What a wise and wonderful God we worship.
I have always liked Psalm 127. It begins by telling us that unless the Lord builds the house, and guards the city, all is vain. It goes on to describe painful labors. Painful labors are when we rise early and retire late. This is quite the opposite of how we have been taught. We honor those who work extra hours. We honor those who get up early and go to bed at midnight. God honors those who take time to rest and allow Him to work. An old word used much in the past by the church is, Providence. Providence can be pictured as the big hand of God just stirring itself around in the affairs of man. That’s what we want. We want His input in our daily work.
God often speaks instructions to us during our waking hours. But, we cannot limit God to only speaking to us during the waking hours. Job tells us the reason God instructs us during the night is to keep us from the grips of pride. When we are asleep and God speaks to us we have nothing to do with it. We cannot take any credit for anything other than simply committing our sleep to Him. He also gives us such powerful dreams and visions that it changes our conduct. In Psalm 127:2 it tells us that God gives to His beloved, even in his sleep. This is beautiful. The God of all good and perfect gifts gives to us even in our sleep. We have so underestimated the power of sleep. We have not honored or celebrated rest. Let’s embrace a new normal of rest.
When we retire in the evening it would be good to focus our attention upon the Lord. The Church has pushed Bible reading for early morning and made countless people feel guilty who prefer reading of the evening. Could it be that reading of the evening is more beneficial? We were taught that to wait until evening was like giving God the leftovers. However, if we now understand that evening is the beginning of the day, we are giving God the first fruits. Wow! How powerful truth is in setting us free. For all of you out there who have felt condemnation for not getting up an hour early each morning to read…. be free. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ (see Romans 8:1). Many of our little neat ideas about study and prayer are tools of condemnation. As the Lord has birthed in your heart to commune with Him, follow Him instead of the ways and programs of man. Each of us must receive instruction from the Lord. He has designed the night for you to position yourself with Him to change the nature of your coming day. How beautiful is the Lord and all His ways.
I have a friend who struggled for years with feelings of condemnation when he awakened each morning. When he awakened he felt so void of God and His love. Although he was a part of ongoing cutting edge ministry, he battled with feelings of being out of touch with God each morning. I have felt this way some mornings but not to the degree my friend has experienced this.
A solution for this is to commit our nights to God. As we fall asleep we need to turn our hearts and all its affections upon Him. Fall asleep with pillow talk between you and Jesus. Talk to the Shepherd instead of counting sheep. Adore Him and overwhelm His heart as you fall into the arms of the Lover of your soul. If you awake during the night continue to do the same. A new kind of normal will form into a new habit, as you continually receive from Him even in this precious time of rest.
Beautiful sharing of the Word!!
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