11.06.13_Daily Devotion “The Joy of Resting in the Lord!” Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” By Dr. M.H. Salahshurian, Ph. D When there is no storm or crisis in our lives, everyone of us could be in “perfect peace!” Then comes the storm, the test! The storms of life determines if our mind “is stayed” (leaned), on the Lord, and how much we trust Him in time of the storm. In Matthew 8:24, we read that Jesus was asleep before the storm came. No doubt, the Lord knew of the coming storm before the Apostles experienced the storm. And, no doubt, the Apostles did all they could humanly possible, till they were at their wits end. But, the Lord remained asleep, (He waited)! Its in the storms of life in which the Lord stretches our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 1 Peter 5:10). For we read in V-26, He told His disciples, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Here we find He waited for a reason. But in most cases, whenever we experience the storm of life is beginning to disintegrate our lives with the Lord, we need to turn to Him immediately, asking Him to re-establish our rest! Claiming, the promise of His rest, in Matthew 11:28-30. And, what He reminded us of the reality of life in this fallen world in John 16:33. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” When we have the full awareness of Him (our mind is staying on Him), our own self-awareness which causing us to distrust and to be uncertain will disappear! Although self-awareness is not sin, but if prolonged, it leads to self-pity, and thats a dangerous state for a believer to be in! Self-awareness also leads to self-dependency, which sooner or later leads to becoming unfruitful! Remember what the Lord Himself said in: John 15:4-7 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” theswordandshield
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 07:01:47 +0000