Made to Rest

Made to Rest

Exodus 16: ²² And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. ²³ Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ” ²⁴ So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. ²⁵ Then Moses said, “Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. ²⁶ Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none.”

 

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After experiencing the supernatural rotting of their food and seeing the worms, the children of Israel were nervous about following GOD’s commands. On the sixth day of each week they were supposed to gather enough to sit and rest on the seventh day. They obeyed and the food did not rot and worms did not appear.

 

My Observations:

• GOD provided enough food for two days on the sixth day.
• GOD was serious about keeping the Sabbath holy and as a day of rest.
• GOD would withhold food on the seventh day so they should not even try.

 

Rest is important to GOD. HE made humans with limits. The limits require replenishment. I believe GOD wants us to spend time with each other, to talk about GOD and spend time with HIM. This does not mean needing to spend all day in a building, but to be reminded that we need HIM.

 

GOD seems to love spending time with us, but we look for reasons to not spend time with HIM. We go after fame and fortune while depleting our faith. GOD did not provide on the day of rest. HE knew that humans would leave HIM out of their plans. GOD rested on the seventh day as an example to humans to do the same. HE did not need the rest, but humans do. GOD wants us to mimic HIM

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about how HE treated provisions on the sixth day of each week?
• Have you gotten in the habit of not resting?
• Do you intentionally rest to replenish your energy, heal wounds and restore your faith in GOD?

My prayer for you today

3 John 1: ² Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

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DEAR LORD HEAVENLY FATHER

I am so glad YOU are my FATHER and the FATHER to all who believe in YOUR SON. YOU know my heart and YOU know my ways.

Search me O LORD and eradicate any desires that blind me from seeing YOU.

Heal my ears so they may hear what YOU are saying to me. Guide my hands to bless others.

There are many who hurt, please give them peace.

There are many who are physically battling ailments, please heal them.

There are many who can’t make ends meet, please provide for them.

There are many who can’t forgive, please provide mercy.

There are many who are empty, please fill them up with YOUR love.

Please change all hearts toward “that” person, removing contempt for compassion.

Bless this reader today. amen

Remembering can hold me back

Philippians 3: ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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There he was, the bully who sat on me causing me to scrape my arm. I still had the scar after ten years but now I was ready for him. I was now muscular and just as big as him. “He’s going to apologize whether he likes it or not” I said to myself. 

When I walked up to him, he greeted me with a hug and the biggest smile. He was glad to see “old friends who love GOD.” Man, I guess I can’t pummel him today.

• When I hold on to the past I get stuck in the pain.
• When I replay history I get hysterical.
• When I go back to ancient times I wind up with agony.

Many people have messed up in their life in their actions toward me and I have messed up many times in my actions toward them. I have said things and done things that are downright hurtful and so have they. GOD wants me to focus on the prize instead of the problem.

• When I look to what GOD is doing I can forget what people have done.
• When I look to what GOD is doing I can forget when I have failed.
• When I look to what GOD is doing I can forget how the pain feels.

Funny thing about memory, the less it’s used the more I forget. In other words when I purposefully spend my time filling my memory with great thoughts, I don’t have time to fill it with pain. I can then replay the great moments and not replay the “not so great moments.”  In fact the more great moments I can replay the less “stuck” I become.

GOD has given me a gift, namely HIS SON. I now have hope and I can look at the future with a positive outlook no matter the circumstance.

• Are you holding onto the past?
• Are you blinded by what happened instead of looking at how GOD is changing the situation?
• Do you realize GOD is not constantly tormenting you about how you messed up?
• Can you consider for a moment GOD has love for you AND “that” person?

HE is powerful enough!

Acts 3: ² Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

 ⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

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Skepticism was the first word that came to mind when it related to supernatural healing. I mean who in their right mind would believe in healing by a spoken word? That was my immature thinking back then.

• Just because I think supernatural healing should happen like in the movies doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
• Just because we have doctors who are very competent in the anatomy doesn’t mean GOD’s hand isn’t on every person.
• Just because I have doubts doesn’t mean someone else’s faith isn’t greater than mine and their prayer can heal a person.

Healing is such a touchy subject because it cannot be controlled. Science is trying to extend life, but the last time I checked, every human will die. Curing cancer won’t delay death. I once read “every person is appointed a specific time” meaning I will die exactly when GOD tells me to. I also read “you will do greater things than I” meaning GOD HIMSELF expects miracles to be performed through me.

Can this be for real? YES!

• GOD expects me to believe in HIM so much that I should expect my prayer to happen.
• GOD expects me to believe in HIS supernatural power over disease so HE can win a lost soul.
• GOD expects me to believe in HIM to watch over me even through my appointed time to return to HIM.

I act like I don’t want to go to heaven when I say “I don’t want to die.” In reality GOD wants my boldness about HIS SON all the way up to my last breath. Yes I believe in supernatural healing as long as it points solely to GOD.

• Are you or someone you know experiencing a need for supernatural healing?
• Do you believe GOD can and will still heal people supernaturally?
• Are you worried about your health?
• Can you give your worries to GOD and watch HIM perform miraculous acts even through doctors?

JESUS is still supernatural!

Mark 5: ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

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Growing up in a large city in modern times has made me cynical towards GOD. I have dentist, doctors and medication available to me to make me feel better.  If one of my vital organs stops working I can just go to the supermarket and have the cashier put in a new one. Okay, I know it’s not that simple but you get the picture.

I hear the questions “Is GOD real” or “Does HE still perform miracles” or “Did HE really do all the miracles stated in the Bible?” My answer is a resounding YES!

• Just because I didn’t see GOD do the miracle doesn’t mean it never happened.
• Just because I didn’t witness JESUS’ resurrection doesn’t mean it isn’t significant.
• Just because I don’t understand how and why JESUS makes things out of nothing doesn’t mean HE can’t.

GOD sometimes seems quite random to me when I look at HIM through my sinful eyes. HE heals some and lets others die. Some people get rich while others struggle. Isn’t there a way to control GOD with my prayer to make HIM less random?

• GOD is the most high and does not bow to humans.
• HE is supreme in HIS decisions because all HIS decisions are based on pure, sinless love.
• GOD has a perfect and pure plan that redeems any human who believes in HIS SON.

Trouble will happen while we live on this earth. I will get emotionally and physically hurt someday I will even die. BUT GOD has given me eternal life and healed my soul of the eternal disease called sin. I have seen GOD do supernatural things. That doesn’t make me special, it makes HIM special.

• Do you believe GOD can heal you or “that” person?
• Even if HE doesn’t is HE still GOD to you?
• Can you grow in your excitement toward the most HIGH GOD?

Even a little "touch" of faith goes a long way!

Mark 5:25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "

32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

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This story fascinates me. I see a woman who had been suffering for a long time. I speculate that since she was bleeding, she was declared "unclean" by the religious leaders and therefore she could not worship. I also speculate that people looked down on her because she was declared unclean.

The reason I speculate this is because I have done the same thing to people. Imagine instead of bleeding the person has AIDS or Herpes. In fear, I judged the person's lifestyle or just didn't help.

If going on a crusade for a cause is your thing then so be it. I just want to be honest, I too have thought the wrong way about someone because they had an ailment.

This woman had an ailment that she could not do anything about. She sought after doctors and other people for help, yet there was nothing they could do. The problem could only be handled by GOD HIMSELF.

I don't know where she got her faith, but it is truly amazing. How did she know that just touching HIS clothes would work? My thought is that maybe it happened to someone else and news traveled.

Just imagine JESUS walking around and people pushing to get to HIM and HIS robe touches a person and they get healed. They are going to run and tell everyone what happened. She may have heard this and was desperate for healing. Her condition was getting worse and she needed GOD right now!

JESUS has an account of where HIS power goes. As HE walked along, HE knew who touched HIM, HE knew their disease or ailment and HE knew just how to heal them. Each touch was like a doctors consultation and surgery all at the same time.

HE asks a strange question for our benefit. "Who touched my clothes?", HE said to HIS disciples. HE did this for our benefit. HE wanted people to notice the woman who had been healed so that they would believe in HIS power to heal all situations.

Her tiny "touch" of faith enabled her to be healed by GOD. It's amazing that faith transcends the physical realm. Her touch was felt by GOD through HIS clothing. HIS inventory of power had been tapped into by her faith.

• GOD knows just what I am going through.
• When I reach out to HIM with a little faith HE returns great power.
• GOD knows just how to heal me and my situation.

She was immediately healed and her body was made whole. Her bleeding not only stopped, but she was fully restored to 100% health. Nothing was wrong with her body. GOD's ability to restore is amazing, just have a "touch" of faith.

• Is your back up against the wall?
• Have you tried everything?
• Are you willing to be an example of how GOD can conquer any situation?
• Do you have just the tiniest "touch" of faith to reach out to GOD with your situation?

Are you willing to listen to GOD's answer?

Mark 1:40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

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I don't always treat GOD like HE is the supreme being. I sometimes treat HIM like a three year old treats his parents when he wants his way but can't have it. I throw my tantrum, roll around the floor and threaten to do things until HE gives me my way.

Ugly isn't it?

• Many times I have set expectations of GOD that HE should do things exactly as I have them planned out.
• Many times HE had something different in mind.
• Many times I wasn't willing to accept HIS alternative because I thought I knew what was best for me.

In this passage of scripture I see a man with an issue. He is sick and is tired of being sick. I don't know how long he has been in this situation, but he wants comfort. He knew there was nothing inside of himself that could cure him.

He went after the only solution. He asked GOD to intervene in the situation by using a rather unique approach. Instead of throwing a tantrum and getting indignant, HE humbled himself and begged with a humble heart, knowing that the answer could be "No!"

Realize the thinking. The Pharisees were making money from telling people about GOD. They saved the best for themselves and turned away people who desperately needed help. This man had no idea who he was talking to. He just knew this guy healed people.

He humbled himself and was willing to hear "no" but he had to try anyway. His back was against the wall. He may have tried everything, but nothing worked. I can empathize with this man.

I know when I come to GOD the way I'm supposed to, HE takes compassion on me. When I am willing to ask HIM for the thing I want and desire and I am willing to let HIM steer the situation, I get what I want every time.

• I may ask for one job and HE gives me another. I can praise HIM for giving.
• I may ask for money and HE allows more to be taken away. I can praise HIM for making me an example.
• I may ask out of my situation and HE leaves me in a little longer. I can praise HIM for sustaining me.

GOD is quite able to change anything HE wants to. HE can return today and could wipe out all humans, yet HE chooses not to. I believe HE is patiently waiting on the last person who will accept HIS SON. HE is patient with HIS humans and has compassion on those who seek HIM.

So I have tried to come to GOD the way HE wants me to come to HIM. I humbled myself and asked HIM, "LORD if you are willing..." With my statement I realize the answer could be "no", but I also realize that with HIS answer comes compassion.

HE has this overwhelming desire to do the best things for me here on earth and later in heaven. I personally have experienced HIS blessings many times when I am willing to listen.

• How do you approach GOD?
• Can HE say "no" to you without you throwing a tantrum?
• Are you willing to come to HIM in a humble fashion?
• Do you believe HE is the "only" one who can cure you or your situation?
• Why hasn't HE done it?