Dear Friends,
Jesus wants you and me, His disciples, to live in a place of rest, a place of connection, a place of peace. His last gift to us was a gift of peace. His words, recorded in John 14 v 27, say, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Jesus then tells His disciples that He is going away, but will send another friend, the Holy Spirit, to be with them. They will not be orphaned but rather comforted. Living in rest can involve choice. Think about Mary and Martha - Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and enjoy His presence (Luke 10 v 38-42). Martha was distracted by unnecessary tasks. She had welcomed Jesus into her home and made Him comfortable, but she missed out on relaxing with Him, which was what Mary, her sister, had experienced. Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen, while Mary was hanging on every word Jesus spoke. And Mary was commended for having made the better choice!
Some new believers struggle with prayer. One helpful way to look at it is by taking two chairs and placing them side by side - you sit on one, and the other chair is for Father God. Say to yourself: “Father God is sitting on that chair. He is invisible, but He wants you to sit beside Him and tell Him everything that you are thinking and feeling. Ask questions and listen, and you will receive peace.”
As we commit to doing this regularly, we begin to discover rest and peace for ourselves, as we allow Jesus to bear the burdens that trouble us. Sometimes, like Martha, we can be distracted, but as we sit with Jesus and tell Him about the circumstances of life, His peace will replace anxiety, fear, and whatever would seek to trouble us. If you have been troubled and are carrying heavy burdens, take time to sit and pray, receive peace, and live in rest.
God bless you, David
