Entering Rest We are incredibly blessed to live in an era of extreme computing—an age in which moments of processing can accomplish what once required enormous effort and time. Even artistic creation in sound and image now rivals the work of the most gifted humans almost instantly. This leaves us with a choice. We can resist these tools, insisting on doing everything the hard way in order to feel ownership and merit. Or we can rest—allowing what already works so well to carry the weight for us. Tasks that once consumed our energy and drained our focus no longer need to steal our joy or leave us weary. There is now an unprecedented opportunity to move beyond former limitations and step into what once seemed only a dream. But doing so requires letting go of familiar patterns of personal exertion—patterns that once gave us a sense of deserving and control. True progress now comes through resting reliance on what is already effective, not striving to recreate it ourselves. This principle of rest is not new. God embedded it into creation itself. After setting all things into motion, He rested—and that rest allowed creation to fulfill its purpose, to multiply and develop. In Christ, the fullness of God’s creative power and wisdom is now available to us, limited only by our willingness to rest from self-reliance. Faith still requires effort, but the effort we are called to now is different: it is the intentional release of striving so that who He is and what He has already done can work through us. This rest reshapes everything. In relationships, it looks like releasing the burden of offense. In prayer, it means letting go of trying to move God and choosing instead to trust His presence. In provision and planning, anxiety loses its grip as we settle into God’s rest. There, in that place of rest, God performs what our own efforts never could. When we stop trying to fix everything, we discover that He is already at work—mending and making right by His righteousness. Notes Weariness: From physical exertion – builds strength and reliance with rest Hard work Working out From the stress of worry Strains the heart, organs, and nervous system Becomes exhausting as an unresolved habit From the striving of strife Bitterness and unforgiveness depletes and corrupts strength Veils the mind’s eye with hopelessness From religious manipulation Carries the weight of an outcome already promised Assumes levels of ascension from actions taken Our strength and resilience – physically, mentally, of the soul, and spiritually require entrance into rest. How to enter- Rest – a place you enter by hearing God’s voice and obeying it Hebrews 4:3-11 (NLT) 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. 4 We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5 But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.” 6 So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” 8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. Doing apart from Him is useless and tiring. Psalms 127:1-2 (TLB) 1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders’ work is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, sentries do no good. 2 It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest. Weariness from one’s own yoke finds rest in following humility and gentleness Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Following religion only wearies with what should liberate. Mark 2:27 (NLT) 27 Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. Religious service can weaken sensitivity to what matters. Luke 10:40-42 (NKJV) 40 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.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." The Wisdom from God is actions that rest from strife James 3:14-18 (TPT) 14 But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony. 15 For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish and devilish. 16 So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness. 17 But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form 18 and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace. Striving in fear can be disallowed in the gift of His presence. John 14:27 (NLT) 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. CLOSING DECLARATION… * I choose to rest in God. * I trust His timing, His ways, and His faithfulness. * I release control, fear, and striving. * I enter His rest by faith.