Supernatural Rest

Supernatural Rest

May 25, 2011

By Doug Clay

I love technology ... at least when it¹s working right! (OK, OK, I mean ³when I am working it right!²) Technology is supposed to help us accomplish things more easily and make us more productive, but sometimes my greatest spiritual warfare is with my PC! (Did I hear a few amens?) And the scary thing about technology is, it is always changing! In 20 years, laptops will probably seem as old and archaic as the eight-track player.

Research reveals that the average person is working much longer hours today because we literally can work from anywhere. In fact, I am writing this article from my cell phone, which is connected to my office Outlook, and I will forward it to my assistant who will format it to be sent out.

Technology allows us to stay in constant contact with others, which means we are always on call. Unless we intentionally set boundaries, we will never rest from our work.

God got angry with the people of Israel because they did not know His ways.

They failed to recognize the boundaries He had set for them that would ensure a spiritual and physically successful life. They chose to disregard His ways. This disobedience led to their inability to enter God¹s rest.

³ŒTheir hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.¹ So I declared on oath in my anger, ŒThey shall never enter my rest¹² (Hebrews 3:10,11, NIV).

One author says, ³God¹s rest means that we can actually do our work and still be refreshed through His Spirit in our inner man. It is the opposite of sweat and toil. It means that the fruit of our work comes as a result of abiding in the vine of His grace and power. Jesus said you can do nothing

(worthwhile) unless you are connected to the vine.²

I think it is important for us to not only understand His ways, but we must do His ways. When we follow these two things, we will begin to experience His supernatural rest in all of our endeavors.

‹ Doug Clay is general treasurer of the Assemblies of God.