March 22, 2023 … Time To Rest…

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 81 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kari Jobe singing … Rest … poignantly singing of how we Christians who surrender to follow the will and ways of Christ can rest in the reality of Go’s watch care over His own.  

============        

Highlight Passage: … Genesis 2:2 [NLT] … 

2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.    

…God rests on the seventh day.                

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Genesis 1:31-2:2 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Moses’ account of God resting on day 7 of His creation.                .                     

===============                                                                     .                                                                                                          

Reference Passage: … Exodus 20:8-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… God, thru Moses, commands His people to keep one day in seven as a Sabbath recognizing God’s command to rest in Him and keep that seventh day as Holy.    

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28 [NLT] … 

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  

… Jesus calls (and commands) His followers to come to Him to find their rest.      

Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] … 

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

… Jesus teaches His disciples, just before going to the cross, that they (and we) will encounter many troubles in in their (our) lives; but that HE has overcome the world.  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians how to find God’s rest and His peace by taking our cares to Him with a thankful heart.        

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:9-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s word, thru the Author of Hebrews, shows that we can find our Sabbath rest by living in and follow God’s powerful word.    

                                                                                                            

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Elisa Morgan … AT THIS LINK …   tells of sitting on a rock overlooking the surf crash against the rocks below and feeling that they were given permission from God to rest as nature crashed against the rocks. 

And the ODB author pointed out that often, as we encounter the troubles and challenges of this world, we feel we need the permission to rest and recognize God’s holiness.  And it is true <b>(see in the Scriptures above)</b> that God commands His people to use a Sabbath rest to honor the Lord’s creation and the responsibility of His people to care for it.  

However, in calling for us to stop for a Sabbath rest, we need to take time to follow God’s word and to rest in Him.  That’s why you find me here - each morning - finding a Sabbath moment to seek my rest by taking in God’s word and journaling, as I am here, to rest in His truth to begin each day.  And I pray you are joining me here to rest in our Lord as Kari Jobe sings in the linked song, linked above, today.                                                     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for the Sabbath rest I find in Your truth each day.            .

My Prayer Today:Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to rest in Your truth again today, Lord.     …  Amen               . 

=============

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.