"Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."

Exodus 14:13–14 AMPC

Before we rush in...How are you?

Has anyone asked you that lately? Have you stopped to ask yourself that? Pause. Breathe. Maybe place your hand on your heart...How are you, Dear Heart?

Take a few moments with your breath and the question before you continue reading.

Friend, I want to invite you to join me in something very radical. Yes, and you do not need any special skills. No need to be exceptionally athletic or have a degree or special credential. It's really counter-cultural, though. Truly, you might feel a bit like a rebel. Are you ready?

Yes? Are you all in?

It's R.E.S.T!

Rest is opposed.

Personally, I have begun to notice the feeling of being driven. I have become aware of the cattle-driver feeling of push and hurry...to do more, check my boxes...the criticism that arises toward myself and then toward others for not getting everything done...to get it done right...and right now!

Yikes!

In many of his books, John Eldredge shares how Sabbath is Warfare. He says, "Rest is an act of faith, especially in our day. Few people get the rest God intends for their well-being." In one of his podcasts, he shares that the Sabbath is the battlefield where you reclaim your mind, emotions, and connection with God from the chaos of daily life.

The Bible has quite a lot to say about rest. I have included several Bible verses at the bottom of this email for your reference.

My favorite style of yoga to practice is Restorative. It engages the parasympathetic and is all bout rest.

Restorative yoga practitioners, Caren Baginski and Jillian Pransky, share how tremendous it is for our whole selves!

Baginski says, "restorative yoga is a powerful mind-body-spirit practice that begins with a paradox: through the simple act of doing nothing, you can experience greater shifts in your mental and emotional well-being, an expansion of vitality, smoother relationships, and increased creativity and productivity."

Pransky adds that restorative yoga “helps us elicit the relaxation response, a neurological response…We switch over from worrying about staying “safe” to fostering the longevity systems of long term health, including digestion, elimination, reproduction, growth and repair, and immunity.”

Confession time...

Sometimes I have felt inferior while practicing this modality. It doesn't feel productive enough; it seems like something we can do if we have extra time or want a "spa day."

But, I can tell you that during those times of practice, warfare has been waged.

The world becomes still, my body settles, and I can hear my own thoughts...feel the movements of my heart, and I can hear Jesus.

I can, in these postures of complete rest and letting go of all my bracing, self-protection, and holding, hear what my Abba has to say to me. I can receive His care, healing, and incredibly gentle correction. I'm held not only by the props in the practice but also by my God. This is incredibly powerful.

So, what would rest look like to you? Knowing that this is an upside-down kind of warfare... could you begin asking Abba to reveal the places and postures you find yourself in, and take His hand as He leads you to rest in Him?

This will take courage. It will be opposed (likely the first thing you will give up when life pushes in), but remember, this is warfare.

Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. The Lord will fight for (put your name in here), and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.

May you have the courage to ask Abba for rest.

May you have the faith to practice rest and the grace to give to yourself as you try to embrace it.

May you experience Abba, Jesus, and Holy Spirit as you practice rest...and may you fall more in love with Him.

Bible Verses on Rest:

• “Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations. I am honored over all the earth.” Ps. 46:10 The VOICE

• “It is vain for you to rise early, to retire late, to eat the bread of anxious labors—For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.” Ps. 127:2 AMP

• “He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while”—for there were many [people who were continually] coming and going, and they could not even find time to eat.” Mark 3:31 AMP

• “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Mat. 11:28-30 The Message

• "Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest." Exodus 14:13–14 AMPC

• “On the seventh day—with the canvas of the cosmos completed—God paused from His labor and rested. Thus God blessed day seven and made it special—an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping, because God rested from all the work He had done in creation that day.” Gen. 2:2-3 The VOICE

• “So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own.” Heb. 4:9-10 AMP

• “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” - 1 Peter 5:6-7 AMP