Today I have a special message and it is more of an announcement. I have been writing Today’s Word since 1997. This means that just about every weekday for the past 18 years I have sought the Lord for a Word to share with His people, for His glory, before I do anything else in the morning. I have done this while on vacation, while deployed, and just about everywhere I have been. I have never taken a true break. I have never felt the need to, nor have I ever asked the Lord for one.
It’s no secret that Isabella and I recently retired from the United States Army after my 25 years of service and her 21 years. As we prepare for the next season of our lives, it is critical that I hear from God. This morning we are starting our family vacation and a few days ago the Lord started dealing with me about taking a sabbatical. I have never done this. I have never truly taken a break from ministering to others, with the focus on hearing from God for myself and for the direction of my family.
I am being obedient to the Lord and I will take the sabbatical He is leading me to take. I won’t send out Today’s Word again until next month. This will be a time of prayer, reflection and relaxation for us.
During this time I solicit your prayers. I only want to be the man God called me to be. I only want to do what He called me to do. I don’t have any aspirations of doing or being anything or anyone else. My life is simple, I only want what God wants for me. Nothing more, nothing less.
Please pray with me during this season. I expect to come back refreshed, restored, rejuvenated and ready! During the break, please take advantage of the following free resources:
Download the Rick & Isabella Pina Ministries Mobile App (available for Apple, Android, Windows Mobile, and Kindle): http://goo.gl/4xV0k7
Subscribe to the Rick & Isabella Pina Ministries podcast: https://goo.gl/y2EnYw
Visit any of our sites:
Rick Piña Ministries: www.rickpina.org
Today’s Word: www.todaysword.org
Get Inspired: www.getinspiredword.org
Palabra Del Dia: www.palabradeldia.org
Lastly, as for today, I feel led to close out the message with a few thoughts on divine rest.
So what divine rest mean to you today? A few things.
1. Your “To Do” list is not as important as your “Not To Do” list.
a) Today we live in an era when most people have more task than time, and it is because most of us have taken on things the Lord never told us to take on.
b) If you would stop doing the things the Lord never told you to do, you would have time to do what He called you to do.
c) Many believers are stressed out because they are doing the wrong things.
2. It’s hard to hear from God when you are so busy working [supposedly] for Him.
a) Sometimes people get so busy doing work FOR the church that they fail to BE the church.
b) Mary and Martha give us a good picture of the need for divine rest. While Jesus was teaching Mary was sitting at His feet, receiving from the Master, being built up with every Word Jesus spoke. At the same time, in the same house, her sister Martha was busy working. She was missing out on hearing from Jesus, because she could not discern when to stop working and to simply start worshipping. Jesus said to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled by too many things” (Luke 10:41). Martha needed divine rest.
c) Martha was working FOR Jesus. Mary was receiving FROM Jesus. You need to know when to work and when to simply worship.
d) If you work more than you worship, you might find yourself so busy that you never slow down long enough to hear God’s voice.
3. In today’s society it’s hard to BE STILL.
a) Activity does not always equal productivity, especially in God!
b) The Lord said through the psalmist, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10).
c) David said, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1,2).
d) Resting in God is NOT ‘doing nothing’. It’s resting in God! If God tells you to rest in Him, then rest. Rest in His grace. Rest in His peace. Rest in His power. And resist every temptation to DO something to supposedly “help” Him out, if He is taking longer than you wanted.
*** Learn to BE STILL and REST in God!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your amazing and unearned grace. I also thank You for teaching me about divine rest. The more I study Your grace, the more I realize the need for rest. When I am so busy doing all the work, You simply rest in my life and wait on me to get tired. But when I learn to rest in You, You are then able to work IN, WITH, and THROUGH me. I have done both. There have been times when I worked and You rested, in my life. And there have been times when I rested and You worked. The latter is much better. I shall enter into divine rest and take a rest from MY OWN WORKS! I no longer live my life based on me, my desires, my power, my ability or my strength. Living that way led to unnecessary stress. I now live my life resting in You. My focus is on You, Your power, Your purpose, Your strength, and Your timing. My soul finds REST in You. You are my rock. You are my fortress. You are my deliverer. My trust is in You. This day and every day, I enter in to divine rest. I am still enough to hear Your voice. As You speak, I do. As You lead, I go. And until You speak, I rest! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
