Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Resting In Jesus

Our church, Broadview Heights Baptist Church is having a Holiness and Revival Conference this week. One of the themes of preaching at church over the past few weeks as well as a theme of the conference that has convicted me is the idea of truly resting in Jesus, depending on his grace and the Holy Spirit for all of my needs.

Resting does not come easily for me. I am more likely to work harder and harder on a difficult area of my life than I am to look to Jesus and his strength and power to enable me to accomplish the mountain of tasks often before me as a homeschool mom.

I am learning now to ask each morning and throughout everyday "Am I working on my own strength and power or the power of the Holy Spirit within me?"

I love this hymn I recently learned at church:

JESUS, I AM RESTING, RESTING

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Refrain
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

May you rely on God's grace and His Holy Spirit to help you to rest in Jesus as you prepare to begin for another year of homeschooling.

Go to NetHymnal to hear the tune for the hymn, "Jesus I Am Resting, Resting".








2 comments:

Connie said...

Just wondering...can you tell the difference when you're doing things in yourself, and when you've rested in the Lord? I usually can't tell - until I'm overwhelmed...then it becomes obvious that I'm doing things in myself. But figuring that out always comes after the fact. I guess what I'm asking is - are you noticing a difference now that you're asking for God's leading? I hope that makes sense.

Encourager Mom- Victoria Carrington said...

I, like you, found out when I was in my own strength AFTER I became frustrated or joyless in my tasks. From the preaching I received over the past month the cure is simple. Jesus told us himself:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

As I pray more, throughout the day, about every little decision and stay in my Bible reading, both on my own and with my children, I am much more fruitful.

I am far from perfect but the Lord is doing a good work in me so I want to share with others.

I hope this helps.