"Come to Me, all of you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Psalm 37 gives us steps to find true rest in the Lord, something many never find. Within the scripture, we find the wisdom of the Lord that tells us what we can do to allow the Holy Spirit to enter our lives.
Resting in the Lord has many components, such as a sense of complete peace, described more deeply in the Hebrew word Shalom which is saying something more along the lines of, “may you be filled with a complete and perfect peace and be full of well-being” or “may health, prosperity, and peace of mind and spirit be upon you.” Beyond just a simple wish for peace and happiness, the word suggests a state of fullness and perfection, overflowing inner and outer joy, and peaceful serenity.
Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. Psalm 37:1
Fret means to be constantly worried or anxious and it will absolutely wear you down and rob you of resting in the Lord. Many were fretting about the last election worrying about the outcome and believing for the worst and not keeping their eyes on Jesus.
Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Psalm 37:3
To trust God to handle all your problems, enemies and those things you fret over will relieve the anxiety and pressure that keep you from walking in peace. Give Him full reign over your life and trust Him with all your heart.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
To delight yourself in the Lord is to turn away from your own interests and pleasures and become concerned with His interests and what He cares about. The scripture says if anyone wishes to follow Me let him deny himself and take up his cross. (An instrument of death)
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
Commit or make a commitment to be led by His Holy Spirit in all that you do being mindful of His will for your life and your wellbeing.
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7
To rest while waiting on God to answer you or your prayers is hard to do but through patience and endurance you will overcome if you will be still and listen.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8
Anger will stop the answer to your requests and will only make you anxious and depressed!
Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7
Anxiety will steal your peace and stress you out to the point of no return and you will only spend your time asking God to deliver you!
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29,30
Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ