Think About This: “The primary purpose of reading the Bible is not to know the Bible, but to know God.” – James Merritt
The Daily Bible Reading: Hosea 11-14, Isaiah 28. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
Posted on July 20, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
“They’re bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!
But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers Is… I’m the only one!”
More often than not, we live life with two extremes. On the one side is Eeyore who says things like, “If it is a good morning, which I doubt,” and “Sure is a cheerful color. Guess I’ll have to get used to it,” or “Thanks for noticing me, Pooh.” The focus is always negative, and whatever is the worst thing that can happen. The opposite is Tigger. Now we would think this is the way to be, bouncy and fun, fun, fun! But in reality, true happiness is the result of discipline, responsibility, and an eye towards consequences; some things that get laid aside in all the bouncing.
The life God has invited us into He refers to as, ‘His Rest’ (Hebrews 4:9). This is not a life of lounging and doing nothing, but one of ‘resting in His promises and the Spirit’s work in and through our lives.’ As we trust this way, Christ makes His home in our hearts, which is the core of our being; and from His glorious, unlimited resources, He empowers us with inner strength through His Spirit. He doesn’t take over like we are robots, but infuses our personality and character with His tremendous and unlimited resources, making us complete. As we humbly allow our roots to grow down into God’s love where we will be established and kept secure, we will have the capability to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is. The harder you lean into God, trusting in His Word and work, you will experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. It is when we crucify our self-centered wants and desires through the leading of the Spirit, who leads us into all truth (John 16:13-16), and through Him, live a life of faith in God’s perfect will, it is here that we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
I don’t care what anyone says, it is not easy to let go of the reigns of our own lives. We are continually attempting to resuscitate our will, hoping it will save us. God is patient through these trials, even caring for our every need. He waits for us to drop our control, grab hold of His hand, and walk forward with Him. God’s love for us is definitely far beyond our comprehension.
We give up so easily. Some of us like Eeyore, who are so willing to settle for an old shack made of selfish wants and ‘me first’ attitudes. Or we go the other way like Tigger and fill our lives with pleasure-seeking, bouncing our way through struggles, attempting to bury our pain under indulgence.
What a glorious life God has invited us into, a rest from all our striving to work it out on our own. The resources in ‘His Rest’ are amazing and endless, I can’t even imagine. I want so bad to stay there, to not grieve the Spirit’s work to help me accomplish this. I wish for you to have that rest too; to lean hard into Christ and find hope and grace. I pray you Choose wisely…
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:16-21 NLT)
Praying 4 U
Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church. He is the author of two devotional books, “From a Chair by the Window.” And “#PrayerWinsThe Day”.
Think About This: “The primary purpose of reading the Bible is not to know the Bible, but to know God.” – James Merritt
The Daily Bible Reading: Hosea 11-14, Isaiah 28. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15