Are you getting too busy?

Long before I watched this video on www.tangle.com, I already knew that busy-ness was one of Satan's schemes to keep us away from being in full communion with our Holy God. However, just now as I was watching this video, it was like a reminder to myself that we have really been too busy for our own good.

One part that particularly spoke to me was 3:05, which says 'Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted.' As I read this line, I wonder, what is the true meaning of rest? I was in a Tenet class last week, and Pastor Dennis said this, 'We all need to learn to rest. Many of us think that resting is sitting on the couch and watching TV is resting, but many of us do not realise that playing is hard work!' And it's true, many of us do not know what true rest is. Let me give you an example. If someone is stressed out over work, he/she takes a vacation. The vacation is supposed to allow him/her to rest. But when he/she comes back, he/she takes one more day leave from work to rest from the vacation before going back to work!

And so I can't help but wonder, what is the true meaning of rest? What comes to mind is Psalm23.

PSALM 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

V1 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want'. In school, are you found wanting in terms of results? In the workplace, are you found wanting in terms of promotions? How many of us dare to fully trust God with our grades and promotions? How many of us would be found receiving a bad grade and praising God for it, knowing full well that He is in control? Now I am not saying that we should all be complacent in our studies/work, I encourage all of us to do our best in these areas. Rather, what I am saying is this, how many of us fully understand the power of God in our lives? How many of us trust God with it? Or are we found striving? Are we found wanting? Striving for more of worldly success, or wanting more worldly riches? Again, we come back to the topic of sensuality, which I shall not say more, having written my thoughts in earlier posts. Friends, today allow me to charge you. Dare to trust God fully with your life. Dare to be strong and courageous even in wanting times, even in times of trials and confusion. Dare to trust God. Notice the term is 'I shall not be in need', but it is 'I shall not be in want'. This speak volumes of our priorities when it comes to living our lives. Te Bible tells us that as long as we have food on our tables and clothes on our bodies, we ought to be content. Everything else that comes is a blessing from God. Do not be found wanting, my friend, for you are well taken care of. Your author of your life knows your beginning and your end, and He has everything well taken care of.

V2(a) 'He makes me lie down in green pastures'. Physically speaking, does anyone have to teach us how to lie down? Does anyone have to be forced to lie down? The answer is NO. All of us were born in a lying down position, unless you were born standing up, which is highly impossible. But in the spiritual realm, do we have to be taught how to lie down? The Psalmist David wrote of the Lord that He MADE him lie down. How many of us have to be made to lie down in God's presence today? How many of us dare not even lie down in God's presence for a minute. Too busy with worldly things to do that? Friends, learn today to lie down in God's presence. Learn today to bask in the fullness of God's beauty. It's a wonder how we need to learn to lie down and allow God to refresh us. Nut nonetheless, my friend, learn.

V3(b) 'He guides me in paths of righteousness'. Righteousness is one of the names of God. Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our righteousness, found in Jeremiah 23:6. Many of us today are found wanting in our schools, striving just to be top, to gain recognition, to obtain our 'best for ourselves'. Friend, let it be known to you that your self-worth is not based on what you can do, but on who you are, and you are a child of God. Need I say more? You have been forgiven and blessed by the only one who could condemn you. Instead of chasing after worldly wealth, chase after the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God brings forth favor. And when you walk in the favor of God, you will walk in the favor of man.

It's currently the March holidays, and it's holidays for me too, waiting to go into Ngee Ann Polytechnic to start a new season of my life. And as I look back, I wonder, how have I been spending this holiday? Have I used it well to rest and be recharged by the Holy Spirit? If you are having your holiday now, use it well. Learn what it means to truly rest in God's presence. Many of us seek temporal enjoyment, going to the movies, or 'sweating it out', or playing computer games etc. Not that all these things are no good, I myself enjoy doing all these. But is this truly resting? or are these just temporal get-aways? Just something that allows you to temporarily forget reality. What's the difference between this and getting drunk, taking drugs etc.? Don't seek temporal get-aways, my friends. It leaves many of us more exhausted than before, and then we need to 'rest'.

And now onto sleep, is sleeping really resting? We speak of getting 8 hours of sleep, to ensure getting enough rest. But won't some of us testify that sometimes sleeping leaves you more tired and sleepy than before? I'm sure many of us have snoozed the alarm clock in the morning, or requested for '5 more minutes' when someone tries to wake us up. I believe if we had truly rested in our sleep, none of these would actually happen. We'd all be so refreshed we get off our beds instantly with joy, ready to embark on the new day! But unfortunately, it doesn't happen often.

What then, is true resting? Personally, I get recharged whenever I enter into the inner courts to meet with God. Every time I enter into God's presence and commune with Him, I find myself recharged and re-energised. And so, to me, resting is about waiting upon the Lord, to simply adore and love Him for who He is, and then for God to love me in a tangible way in return. Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin was a Pastor in the United States. It was known from his son, Jr Kenneth E. Hagin, that there was a period of time that Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin did not physically sleep for a few months. At night, he would be found praying and studying Scripture. And when his son asked him, Rev. Hagin would answer, 'The Holy Spirit will refresh me'. Now that is something I want to experience myself! Again, not that sleeping is no good, but when it takes a certain priority in your life, you know you better sort out your life. True resting is about basking in God's presence, worshiping Him in praise and song, about communicating with Him.

I have shared this with a few people, to whom God allows me to. I don't know when this started, but it has dawned upon me that either I just don't care, or I am just not sentimental, or that I trust God a lot, and I think it's the latter. Many people think my life has no problems as a result. Haha, not true! In fact, in recent times I have been through many ups and downs, I hardly share with anyone though. But even through these times of tribulations, I testify that I did not feel stressed/upset whatsoever. I simply felt peace. And it's a wonderful feeling, to just be at peace no matter what happens. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) I hold firmly to this verse, which says a lot about letting go and letting God. Truly, dear reader, it is so important to allow the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds. You won't fully understand this until you do it. So go do it.

Rest well, my friend.

'I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.' (Psalm 4:8)


Your faithfullness endures always
Where mountains fall and reason fails
And You calm the raging seas
And You calm the storms in me, again

All I know is I find rest in You
All I know is I find rest in You

My heart will praise throughout the night
Where singing seems a sacrifice
Your grace is all I need
Your grace is all I need