The Place of Rest

"Rest is our victory."

THERE IS NO MORE WAR, with the devil, with demons, with people. But sometimes, I do have to take a stand. Lately, there has been this harassment over my writing. Whether it’s mental or spiritual, I’m done kowtowing to voices that will turn my love for words into drudgery. Non-writers don’t get this. Writers do. I love writing. It is my voice. And in the last three years, even more so. I’m not into speaking, though I will if called upon. But writing gives me time to think, to dwell on what’s being said, and to craft something effective. Something beautiful. Speaking is immediate and what’s said cannot be erased or repaired. Perhaps I’m too much of a perfectionist but to say what is on my heart, would take great thought. Except for one word, Jesus. He is always on my heart.

He fought the battle and won the war which the church keeps trying to fight. There’s no need to continue what He completed. How can I best stress this? I love my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, though I don’t call them that way as a title, like some do. Psalm 16:3 in the VOICE translation says the beauty of faith-filled people encompasses me, and this is a wonderful thing. Whether they are of my denomination or not, whether we disagree on doctrine, music, and service styles, it is that we love Jesus that matters. In this, I am like Paul because he was a man who hated people, then he loved them. To the point of going to prison to preach the gospel to them, and to die, as did the other disciples, except John. And he was exiled. That was then, this is now.

Today, people still die for their beliefs. We must always support Israel. Jesus is their King. He loves them and listens to their prayers. To exclude them, when they are under covenant with Him, is all kinds of wrong. Yes, we pray they see Him as Savior, but we love them for His sake regardless. I digress.

We are not fighting people, cultures, or nations. Turn on the TV (which I don’t watch ever) and people are fighting each other. The only solution to conflict is Christ. The answer, the justice, is always spiritual and comes from God. Men can’t see this, but we should.

We aren’t fighting the devil and his loser cohorts either. Our armor is truth and righteousness, faith in Jesus, holding hands with the Spirit of God, all founded on peace. This is a picture of salvation (Ephesians 6). It is taken from a picture of a Roman soldier. This is not a necessary image to me. Instead, we must see the parts of it and how, in the darkest moments, they are what sustains us. We stand and keep standing, not because when the devil sees us, he will quiver. Probably, he will laugh and curse and say something foul. Unclean spirits are at the will of death. They know only violence and hatred and lying. They are afraid more than we are and cover it up with delusions. Bad acting. We need not fear them. Nor argue with them.

This is what the devil wants. Us fighting with him, in a pointless war of words that we cannot win. Our instructions are to rest. Paul spoke of rest in Hebrews 4, that the Father rested on Day 7 of Creation. Jesus said He was Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). The Sabbath is the day of rest. Rest is our victory. That while the devil rages, on the end of a very short leash, we are peaceful and unaffected.

I get pain and illness and sickness. I have had to say “so what” to it and keep walking even while it hurt. Jesus made physical death a doorway we can walk through with ease. With Christ in our heart – Father, Son, and Spirit – we don’t need to worry about what will happen or where we will go. All the unknown has been covered with love and grace. God will be there. It is not a battle either. But as easy as breathing. God has asked us to seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). Peace with others is a must, but peace within ourselves. Our only conflict is the war of the mind, and the Holy Spirit is our Wonderful Counselor to take care of that. Yes, He is in our temple, in our spirit man, but He is in our body and in our head as well. When we lean on Him and let Him do the work, then darkness has no more foothold.

Stop fighting for what has already been secured. Trust God. He is trustworthy. That’s what I’d speak to you. Or write.

“But the Lord is trustworthy, and he will solidify your character growth and protect you from Satan.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 Remedy)

“He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:11 BSB)

Image from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com