Beloved Children of God,

THE IMPORTANCE OF REST:

These past days, the Lord has been reminding me about the importance of rest to us. That failing to understand and observe this in our lives will be detrimental to our well-being. However, due to various pressures that God's people are facing in these days, many of us have overlooked this resulting to great harm and confusion overtaking us.

Even Jesus Himself rested often during His ministry and He also encouraged His disciples to rest. In Mark 6:30-32 we will find this story. " The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them. " Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."

WHAT IS THE REST OF GOD

Understanding and experiencing God's rest are two different things. Many of us try to rest and do various activities which we construed as resting, but at times we still come out not rested. Our physical body maybe resting, but our mind and spirit are fretting.

True rest in God does not depend on outward circumstances. It is being able to enter into the inner sanctuary of the most High despite the battles and problems that we faced and finding refreshment in Him. This will not be automatic, it will need an abundance of God's grace and also discipline from our part. We must learn to shut out all other voices shouting for our attention during these times.

The coming days will be turbulent days. The day of the Lord will be an exciting time to be living in. It will be full of activities both from God and from the enemy. It is important that God's people learn to access this special provision of the Father. Unless we learn how to rest in God, we will not stand with Him when that day comes.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

I don't normally like to share personal testimony in public post, but somehow the Lord has impressed upon my heart to share about these particular events for it will help make understanding about God's rest easier to those to whom this message is intended.

Last 1997, what I thought was an ordinary sore in my tongue turned out to be cancerous. In God's perfect timing, we discovered and removed it before it can spread further. The doctor cut away a portion of my tongue and after two weeks of recuperation. He send me to another city to undergo radiation treatment. God has given us a prophetic word in that area before this happened so when all this was happening to me, I was very strong spiritually. The peace of God was much evident and even the joy of the Lord. Many times I will be surprised at the laughter that comes out from within me in the midst of the pain.

So I really felt very strong throughout this whole period. Towards the middle of the radiation treatment, all the physical symptoms began to appear. Destruction of the taste buds, nausea, no saliva, difficulty of swallowing, gasping for breath, pain. And all these began to take it's toll on me physically. But I remained strong and high spirited during the whole ordeal. Daily I was confessing to myself, "I can do this. I can take it. I am a child of God. He is with me." However as the days progress the more difficult the physical discomfort becomes.

One day it finally dawn on me that something is very wrong. So instead of the usual positive confession coming out from my mouth- I found myself crying out to God. " Lord, I cannot do it anymore. Unless you come and take over." Then the most amazing realization dawn upon me which comes through a vision.

God showed me that in the past weeks of my ordeal. I was holding on tightly to God. But at this last stage, I let go of my hand and instead of me holding on to God, I found that He is holding my hands. He carried me in His arms. Finally, I have understood what resting in God meant. Not only did I understand it, but I was experiencing it for the first time in the midst of the worst physical circumstances. A well known preacher once described this as resting faith.

For the rest of the treatment time, I entered it from another arena. I was no longer trying but I was totally resting in Him. The Father carried me through day by day and it was the most glorious time of rest that I've ever had. I was not doing anything but He was doing everything for me.

Finally, I was able to understand fully and appreciate better the meaning of these words spoken by our predecessors:

Like Job I cry out to God and mean it from my heart "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.....indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance. . . ." Job 1:21, 13:15-16

Like Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego I was able to speak these words back unto the face of my tormentor who was trying to cause me to doubt Father's love for me and to distrust His promises -" O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:16-18

Like Habakkuk my heart shouts these words "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:17-19

The days and months of my recovery were the most painful moments physically but my spirit was getting stronger day by day. The more I let go, the more rested I become inwardly. I don't have the word to fully explain what was taking place inside of me. But it was real and something beautiful was happening inside my soul. In the midst of my desolation. My soul was resting and it was being refreshed by the Father Himself. Oh what a glorious time that has been.

GOD'S MESSAGE

My people, do not be distracted by the many things taking place in your midst. I am God and I am who I say I am. No one can stand before me. You are my child, and I love you beyond words. Come and give everything to me. Give me your pain and I'll turn it into joy. Give me your dryness and it will be turned into a river. Give me your failures and I will turn it into gold. Give me your fear and I will replace it with my strength. Give me your weary body and I will refresh your soul. Come and do not hold back anymore. I longed to remove the yoke that is upon your shoulder. I desire to take the burden from you. Come and take your rest in me.

MY PRAYER

Father, draw us near by your Spirit. Remove all hindrances that is preventing us from experiencing the fullness of your rest. We come to you now and we enter your rest once more. Thank you for being such a wonderful Father to us.

ROMANS 8: 28 -35,37-38

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be comformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified; he also glorified.

What then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but give him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring a charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH. COME AND LET US ENTER INTO THE REST OF THE FATHER FOR HE IS THERE WAITING FOR US WITH OPEN ARMS.

In His service,
Sis Ching Co Cebu City Philippines