Resting Upon Jesus

It can seem impossible to live without stress with the everyday demands of life. Life seems to always give us a reason to stress, but the truth is we can live without stress and that comes from a place of resting upon Jesus.

I never knew that stress could cause body aches until I experienced it myself. At first, I thought I was getting hit with sickness or an attack from the enemy. But I remember in the moment of prayer, I heard God say, "release all tension to me.” I realized that I had been pondering many things that had to be done for the week and carrying the burden of the results that had to be made.  

So much was on my mind, from finances that had to be built, strategies that had to be created, and other things that had to be done. I was carrying the burden of the things that had to be done in my own strength. 

I was led to Isaiah 26:3 which says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” The word steadfast means to rest upon. As I read this verse, I was reminded that I needed to rest the results of my work upon Jesus. 

Perfect peace comes when we trust our works and plans in the hands of Jesus. The only way to truly come to a place of rest is when we trust Jesus. We must trust that His intentions for us are good. We must trust in His ability to do for us what needs to be done. It's easy to say that we trust Jesus, but do we really believe that He is for our good and will lead us to success? 

Although I professed that I trusted in Jesus, my stressing told me otherwise. I had to remind myself that I have an almighty God on my side. I am co-laboring with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the maker of heaven and earth, what do I have to fear? Psalm 121:2 reminds us, "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

God gave me an analogy that just as we find relief when we have partnered with the smartest kid in class for a project, we can also rest knowing that we have an almighty God on our side. 

It wasn't bad that I was thinking of the things that had to be done, but it was when I started putting the burden of the results on my own shoulders that caused me to stress. I had to remember that Jesus is responsible for the results. 

We have our part to do, but leave the results in God's hands. As long as we focus on being faithful with what God has given us, we can trust that He will take care of the rest. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

We can give God our worries and fears because He cares for us. If God cares for us, why do we need to spend another minute worrying about our lives? 

Stress is caused by the worry of failure. We don't need to worry about failure when we leave our situations in God's hand. God cares for us and always has the best in store for us. Our lives won't always look the way we want it to, but we can always trust that the end result will always be for our good. 

God is looking for those who are willing to walk faithfully with Him. Psalm 101:6 says, "My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me."

If we are walking rightly with God, we don't have to stress about our lives. Psalm 91:1 says, "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Those who dwell and walk with God will rest in His safety and care. 

God desires for us to walk with peace, joy, rest, and love. Stress only pulls us away from who God is. Philippians 4:7 reminds us that God is a God of peace. If we don't have peace in our hearts, then it is clear that we gave given in to stress. Don't give in to stress, but give in to Jesus. 

Have you allowed stress to rest in your heart? Will you give your burdens to Jesus and move forward in peace and rest? 

Jesus is inviting you to come to Him. He promises to give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Spend time in His word and presence and invite Him to speak into your situation. You will find His words of assurance to guard your heart. God sees and knows all that you need. Trust in His ability to help you. So remember, rest upon Jesus. 

Living Set Free

We all want to be set free from negative self-talk, anxiety, lustful desires, emotional instability, and more. Maybe you have tried everything you can but certain thoughts still hold you captive. The truth is we can walk in freedom where such things no longer take hold of us. We can live set free in Jesus.

I have struggled with many things, but anxiety seems to still find it's a way to creep in now and then.

There would be moments when I would give in to my fears and start entertaining such thoughts. I became so afraid of my own thoughts because it would cause me to feel depressed even when I didn't want to feel that way.

I was bounded and felt like I no longer had control over my thoughts. I cried to God asking Him, when will these thoughts leave? 

I then had a dream that opened my eyes to the reality that I was already set free in Jesus. I didn't have to struggle or fear such anxious thoughts that come and torment me.

I dreamt that there was a black cat who had rabies. I tried avoiding the cat but whenever I would call it out to go away or tried to close the door on it, the cat would come even closer to me. But then in one scene of my dream, I remember walking away from the cat and disregarding it, and the cat went farther away from me.

Through this dream, Jesus opened my eyes and showed me that I needed to change my perspective. I needed to stop seeing my struggle as a battle that needed to be fought, but one that has already been foughten.

The moment I disregarded the cat, it left me. It was when I acknowledged the power of the cat that I became afraid and the cat came even closer to me. Jesus reminded me that He is in me and because He is in me every darkness has to flee.

1 John 1:5 says, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." We have the choice to walk in darkness or His light. When we walk in His light, we have fellowship with Jesus and His blood purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

There is power in the name of Jesus, and we just need to believe it. Throughout scripture we see Jesus casting out demons and making people whole. That is who Jesus was and still is today.

He has given us the authority to walk victoriously over the enemy. Jesus says in Luke 10:19, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

We can be so afraid of the very thing that keeps us in bondage, but when we realize that we have been set free in Jesus, we have nothing to fear. Our old sin habits no longer have power over us because in Jesus we have the power to overcome anything.

We need to stop saying we are trying to change and believe that we are changed.

In Luke 13:10 we see Jesus healing a woman who has been bound by a spirit causing her to be crippled. Jesus goes to the women and heals her and said, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity” (Luke 13:12).

Just as Jesus came to set that woman free, He also came to set you free.

Jesus longs to set you free from any bondage that is holding you back from living for Him. Bondage from the enemy is any limitation to live for Jesus with our whole being. Whether your struggle is emotionally, mentally, spiritually, or physically, Jesus wants to make you whole.

Jesus created you to thrive and to live in freedom. It's time for you to believe and walk in the freedom that comes when you accept Jesus as your savior. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here."

Are you facing any bondages in your life? Ask Jesus to touch you and to set you free.

When you are faced with temptation, say to yourself, "Jesus has set me free". You will see the power of your words and faith transform you and bring your healing. Jesus says in Luke 17:19, "Your faith has made you whole."Your faith in Jesus has the power to make you whole.

Jesus wants to set you free so that you can set others free in Him. Your testimony has the power to help others walk from darkness into the light of Christ. God has mighty plans for your life. Don't let the enemy stop you from living your life to the fullest. So remember, live set free in Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you that you have set me free to set others free in you.