Keep in mind that the Lord God’s Presence is the source of all joy. If you want to have more joy in your life, spend more time with Him,. That spirit of heaviness that has been hanging over you will lift as the Lord God changes your attitude and perspective. Yes, in His presence is fullness of joy! Seek the Lord God each day of your life until joy becomes your constant companion and you become as delighted with the Lord God’s Presence as was King David. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:10-12
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4-5
Also, keep this in mind; the Lord God’s rest is a blessing and gift of being in His Presence. Don’t wear yourself out, trying to meet your responsibilities and commitments in your own strength. Moses did exactly that. Then he asked the Lord God to give him some assistance with the work of leading His people. Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:12-14
Remember that God’s rest was His plan from the very beginning. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:2-3 The Lord is God, He doesn’t get tired. He rested to show us the importance of rest in His Kingdom. It is a vital part of His Kingdom. His rest restores and strengthens. His rest brings joy and contentedness to our spirit, mind and body.
The word rest in Exodus 33, means to settle down, to give comfort, to cease, to be quiet and to cause to rest, be at rest, give rest, have rest, make to rest. The word may also mean to set one’s mind at rest. My wife Arlene has joked with to me several times, questioning whether I am “human”. That is because I fail to be concerned about some things that most would be very emotional about. I just say that the Lord God will handle it, and it is none of my concern. Sometimes my faith and trust may come across as lacking compassion, I will admit! But I take His Word quite literally and I trust Him! That gives me rest and joy. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
In truth, this rest is a ceasing to work because this work isn’t yours. When the Lord God is with you, He is the One who does the work and you are free from the anxiety of trying to make things right. It is His Holy Spirit working in you and through you, guiding and giving strength and wisdom when you need it. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24
And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”
So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:14-17 I would say that the Lord God told Moses, “All you need is My Presence. When I am with you, you don’t have to work so hard. I will meet all you needs and take care of all you concerns”.
The church needs to understand this Kingdom principle. Too often they become so caught up in their plans and programs that they forget who is really the head of the church. Success arrives when the Lord God shows up on the scene. Until then we are just playing church and going through the motion.
Busyness is not a fruit of the Spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23
“Doing” is not our first priority. “Being” in His Presence is; for in His Presence is complete joy and rest. Mary knew this: Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Remember, your faith in the Lord God’s Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
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