Being Human part 4
Being human is about being. Yesterday we looked at the beattitudes. The attitudes you be in. Today I want to focus on rest. Being still and knowing that HE is God. Knowing that we don't have to do everything. Which is good, because we can't. I can't do everything. I can do all things through God who strengthens me. Yes. But that doesn't mean I have to try to do everything. I keep referencing the time when the Holy Spirit stopped Paul from preaching in Asia. Or let me say it another way, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not" (1 Corinthians 10:23). Just because we CAN do something doesn't mean we HAVE TO. Sometimes we can help more by helping less. Sometimes a situation doesn't necessarily need our opinion, or input. Sometimes we need to be still and let things play out instead of trying so hard to fix every single thing. Some things aren't for us to fix. Some things are for people to go through. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just be there. Like when your girl doesn't want you to FIX her promblems, but just to listen. Right? We think it's all about doing, doing, doing. If we're not doing something then we're doing nothing. Which seems like it makes sense, but really doesn't. Because we are not human doings. We are human beings. It's ok to be still. To "do" nothing. To rest and recharge. To find that inner peace that is Jesus. He said He IS our peace, right? And He is love. Love is our peace. Love is what allows--equips and empowers--us to be just be. To stop and smell the roses, as they say. To experience what's going on in a peaceful, restful way. Blessed are the peacemakers, right? They will be called (or identified as) the Son(s) of God. Well, you can't make peace unless you first have peace. That comes from inside. From knowing that Jesus has overcome the world. From knowing that we are who we're supposed to be. You don't always have to rush around trying to fit into a certain box. You don't have to work so hard to be someone you're not. You can just be who you are. Embrace who you are. And I'm not talking about "giving up" or anything like that. I'm talking about being the best YOU you can be. I'm talking about doing things heartily--to the best of your ability, and because it is in your heart to do it. You can operate from a place of rest. Let what's inside flow out of you. Guys, rest is not inactivity. It is Holy Spirit directed activity. Resting in God's love is loving people. That's HOW you rest in it. If you don't use it, you lose it. In a sense. Because if you want to experience love, or feel love... the best way to do that is to love. To give what you've got. To let it go and let it flow. Life isn't supposed to be one constant task after another. And, again, I'm not saying you should be lazy and never do anything. I'm saying that you don't ALWAYS have to be doing something. Sometimes the best thing to do... is just be. Shut it down. Experience this beautiful creation that we have been given dominion over. There's a song lyric that goes, "All I've really gotta do is live and die but I'm in a hurry and don't know why." We need to slow down sometimes. Stop trying to overdo it. Enjoy the ride... with the assurance that we WILL get to the destination.