Meditation During the Invitation to REST
An Invitation to Rest
Imagine that you see two empty chairs facing the water. It’s a silent invitation to rest. The horizon is clear. You do not see clouds, a sunrise nor sunset. There are no ships, birds or fish to be seen. You do not see land on the far side. You do not see another person.
I invite you to take a seat in one of the chairs. This chair is intended to be comfortable place for REST—Release Everything, Surrender Totally. It positions you to be still and it invites you into the fellowship of REST.
Who Will You Invite to Rest Beside You?
Who are you inviting to be seated beside you? With two chairs, there is a double portion to be had. Let’s become very intentional about coming to this place of REST. Give yourself permission to be still and REST in knowing I AM. Come beside the still waters. Answer His invitation to rest. Lay your burdens down, lay your dreams down, and lay your failures down. Yes, lay everything down. Now set your heart to fellowship with REST.
A Deep Breath for the Weary Soul
I invite you to close your eyes. Take a deep breath and exhale all that stress, pressure, anxiety, and fears. You say you did already. Let’s go deeper. Take another 3 or 4 deep breaths and lay down the next thing that comes to your mind. Repeat this as often as you need.
Now, take another deep breath. Clear your mind, clear your emotions and then tell your body to come to REST, too. Start at the top of your head. Then, imagine each part from head to toe is relaxing, resting, and coming to stillness and peace.
Connected to the Heart of God
It’s beginning. Imagine you are connected to the Heart of God. Just imagine you are surrendering your heart to God at a deeper level than ever before. There is a part of your heart you have protected and kept in reserve. You have ignored that area for some time. Surrender that area, too, and see your heart trusting God with that part you have been protecting.
Come to truly REST in God’s character and promises. Take as much time as you desire. Come in and enjoy the fellowship with Him as you respond to His invitation to rest. Enjoy His Presence and your deeper heart connection. Enjoy the significant exchanges.
Now open your eyes and look out to the water and to the horizon. Use your imagination once again. What do you see? Are you dreaming of your future? Can you imagine your eternal purpose? Are you reframing some thoughts or mindsets so you can birth the new? Are you reframing so you can renew and restore truth and harmony with His character? Take your time.
Stop Striving—Surrender Again
Ok, stop trying to figure it all out. Surrender once again to REST. Surrender to the REST that comes by practicing His ways, in aligning with His character, and from abiding in His Word. It takes some labor to come to this place of RESTING in Him. It also takes work to surrender your heart fully and to align your heart with His Covenant.
When you are fully in REST…transformation happens by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Note, you don’t labor to transform yourself. You labor to enter into that surrender of RESTING in Him. And like the butterfly, you begin as a caterpillar that had a season of RESTING in the cocoon.
You, too, learn to REST as you are miraculously transformed into the valued and treasured vessel created by God’s own hand. Just as the butterfly takes flight with such ease; you, too, take flight with ease. You have become like Him!
Consider this Acrostic for the Word “REST”
Reframe to be Renewed and Restored and then discover your
Eternal Purpose
Surrender your heart as you are Seated with Jesus at the right hand of the Father and you are
Transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit
By Cheryl Adams
