Rest doesn’t come naturally to me. Even when I am physically still, I am still emotionally and mentally very active.
I easily overthink and over ponder to the point of overwhelming my own self. I default to the belief that rest equals physically doing nothing, and as a mom and wife, that is an impossibility.
But when I heard the whisper of Jesus’s invitation to rest by learning the unforced rhythms of grace, as the Message translation says in Matthew 11: 28-30, I am awestruck at how this might play out in my everyday life. This invites me to recognize that rest is not a lack of something but rather a shift towards a new way of listening.
After years of Bible study workbooks, commentaries and book studies, I was desperate for an intimacy with Jesus that came through hearing Him speak through His Word for myself. Pastors and teachers are a gift and very needed, but we, as temples of the Living God (2 Corinthians 3:16-17) ought to be able to hear Him speak through His Word for ourselves. And the truth is, we can!
Seeking the rest that I can find through learning Jesus’s character and ways, led me to create the TEND method. This simple method of engaging with Scripture makes the Word of God approachable. It is just you, your Bible and the Holy Spirit of God.
As I examine the facts and notice the lessons about who God is and what He is teaching in a passage, I find rest for my soul in a new way. I am called by the Spirit of God to respond to His Word and be as James calls a “doer of the Word.” By responding to the Word of God, I begin to “learn the unforced rhythms of grace” that Jesus invites us into.
Are you eager to find rest in the midst of a busy season? The upcoming holidays will likely prove enough to keep our minds and bodies overwhelmed. Slowing down to lean in and hear the voice of God through His Word offers us the rest our mind needs while keeping us engaged in the present moment of our life.
You are invited to listen for the voice of God through His Word using my simple TEND method. Where can I send you my free guide to the TEND method? Drop your email below.
