In part 12 (click here to read it), we looked at how to walk in God's peace by refusing to worry but trusting Him instead. It takes retraining of the mind to cast all your cares to God. It is not the norm as the world system does not operate like that.

1. "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." (Romans 12:2 GNB)

2. "Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything--and I do mean everything--connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life--a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you." (Ephesians 4:22-24 MSG)

3. "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." (2 Corinthians 10:5-6 MSG)

We are called to live in God’s rest, where He makes full provision and we enjoy it at His expense. This is His pleasure. But first we must cease from our own efforts and labour to enter His rest through renewing our minds.

1. "Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 GNB)

2. "As it is, however, there still remains for God's people a rest like God's resting on the seventh day. For those who receive that rest which God promised will rest from their own work, just as God rested from his. Let us, then, do our best to receive that rest, so that no one of us will fail as they did because of their lack of faith." (Hebrews 4:9-11 GNB)

3. "So let no one make rules about what you eat or drink or about holy days or the New Moon Festival or the Sabbath. All such things are only a shadow of things in the future; the reality is Christ." (Colossians 2:16-17 GNB)

The rest from His finished work

The rest in His finished work

The rest because His work is finished

The rest prepared for us

The rest for those who will finish their works

The rest for those who will trust in His finished work

The rest for those who will shake off the guilt

Of ceasing from their own works

The Sabbath day

The shadow of the dispensation to come

The Sabbath rest

The fulfilment of the shadow that was

We in Christ fulfil that rest

In Christ, we stop trying to save ourselves

In Christ, we accept His finished work of salvation

In Christ, we stop living in our own strength

In Christ, we let Him live His life through us

So labour to enter this rest

The labour of switching from our life to His

The labour of learning to trust in His finished work

The labour of renewing our minds

To stop being guilty of not doing our works

Just content to let Him have the pleasure

Of us enjoying all He has done

A labour worth undertaking

To live in His rest

Till the next installment

Every Blessing

click here to read part 14

To view others instalments in the series, click here