Want to Live Radiantly? Resting in Jesus Is The Way to Refresh the Body, Soul and Spirit.
Ever have a sleepless night of tossing and turning with your mind replaying scenarios of life events? Or worries strangling peaceful sleep? “What will I do about … tomorrow?” “How will this relationship ever mend?”
As Christian women, with busy schedules, we wear multiple life-hats with endless lists in our homes, professions, callings, life with God, families, churches, communities, friends …. We are wives, moms, cooks, cleaning ladies, laundry women, taxi drivers, bankers, organizers, event and trip coordinators, acrobats, and the list just keeps on going.
All this changing of hats takes energy. Not to mention all the distractions from God that it can create. Physical rest is rare for the busy woman. We need rest for our souls and energy for our bodies. When our souls rest, our bodies will relax and refresh. We need time to be resting in Jesus.
How do we revitalize in body, soul, and spirit as women of God and live radiantly?
During my years of walking with Jesus, I have experienced various ways for living radiantly. We have looked at how receiving Jesus’ view of the Father gifts us with Identity in Christ. Let’s continue and look at another of the three most significant ways for living radiantly. The second way I have found to refresh as Christian women is by resting in Jesus and relaxing in my body. Our rest and relaxation complement each other.
- Receiving Jesus’ View of the Father gifts me with Identity in Christ.
- Resting in Jesus and Relaxing in body refresh me as a Christian Woman.
- Reflecting Holy Spirit’s Power transforms darkness to light for Beautiful Surroundings.
Resting in Jesus Refreshes Me as a Christian Woman
Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:27-30)
1. Rest for Your Souls
Jesus said He would give us rest in our souls (minds, wills, and emotions). His rest settles within us when we take His view of our Heavenly Father. After taking Jesus’ view of Our Father, He will help us learn to find rest for our souls.
There is still a full and complete rest waiting for believers to experience. As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates his finished works and rests in them. So then, we must give our all and be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief. For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts. (Hebrews 4:9-12, TPT)
And there was evening and there was morning, the first day, the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day, and the sixth day. (See Genesis 2)
The western world and eastern world rest and work backward. We rest following work. While, the eastern world works following rest. Their days start at sundown. Our days start at sunup. Evening is for rest. Mornings start from rest, not with labor.
True rest comes from the Person of Christ, not a day, nor ceasing from work. God breathed (Hebrew, ruach, meaning breath) His Spirit into man. The breath of God is closely attached to rest. Rest and breathing work hand in hand to refresh and revive us.
Are you in need of refreshing? How did the ancients refresh? How do we refresh?
Times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:20)
The subject of rest wasn’t foreign to the disciples. Some of the disciples were schooled in the Law and The Prophets of God. Sabbath was a day they celebrated, and continue to celebrate, as a day of rest, reflection, and celebration. Each of the Feasts of Israel were times of rest, reflection, and celebration. They rested and were refreshed from the Lord’s presence.
Six day shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:15-17)
He (God) said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (the breath of His Spirit). (Exodus 33:14)
Jesus Refreshes the Disciples
That evening, the disciples gathered together. And because they were afraid of reprisals from the Jewish leaders, they had locked the doors to the place where they met. But, suddenly Jesus appeared among them and said, ‘Peace to you!’ . . . Jesus repeated his greeting, ‘Peace to you!’ . . . Then, taking a deep breath, he blew on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:19-26).
The disciples were refreshed by the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed deeply and blew on them. After this incident, Jesus told the disciples to go and wait for the Promise of the Father, while waiting for the Feast of Pentecost.
We find in Acts 2, the disciples followed the words Jesus said to them. They were waiting, while resting in His presence, for the Promise of the Father. His Promise was to send His Spirit upon them and within them. Holy Spirit (Greek “pneuma-breathe, spirit-wind) came like a mighty rushing wind. He didn’t come the way they expected. Yet, He came the way they needed Him most. The Holy Spirit comes to us the way we need Him.
He comes to us to plant the Seed of Christ within us and live inside our hearts (not the organ, but the Jesus shaped place inside us where only He can reside) to know our heavenly Father and to grow and mature in Christ. He comes upon us to give us power to share about Jesus, who is the only way to the Father.
Since “Times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:20) how will He refresh you today? Would you try it? Sit still for three minutes to settle (rest) and breathe (as if drawing a good breath) while asking the Lord to refresh you.
2. Relax in Your Body
I couldn’t take a deep breath. The knot in my upper stomach prevented food from digesting properly, causing frequent indigestion. So, I took a day to only focus on one project and set the other pending projects weighing on my mind aside. I ate light, prayed, stayed calm, went to bed early, and slept peacefully.
The next morning, I awoke to a beautiful South Carolina sunrise and the sound of birds chirping. Alive with energy, I watered flowers, picked our first batch of blueberries, and emptied and refilled dishes in the dishwasher. I realized I could breathe again. My soul was returning to rest and my body was relaxing again to breathe and digest food. And, my fingers danced across the laptop with refreshing words to a writing project.
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God created us and this earth and us as creatures to live in cycles of rest, work, and play.
The vegetation kingdom thrives in the cycles of rest and work also. Plants produce their greatest oxygen levels in early mornings following rest. The high oxygen levels fill birds with energy to chirp and the roosters to crow the most and loudest in the early morning hours!
Breathe those high oxygen levels into your cells and organs by belly breathing. When we belly breathe (breathe in a large amount of air through your nose to fill your lower belly, hold for a few seconds, and release the air through your mouth) we are sending oxygen into our blood stream. This oxygen permeates our organs, sending relaxation hormones to our brain to settle us to relax in our minds and bodies. Try this breathing technique about five to ten times and notice the way you relax in your body.
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I decided to take on a new mindset and focus on my evenings as the start of my rest and day.
My work will follow my rest. No longer will my rest follow my work. So, I tell myself when my mind starts wandering about the next day’s tasks, “I am resting. My work will follow my rest.” Talking to myself in this way seems to help my mind rest and my body relax. Give yourself permission to rest your mind and relax your body.
Settle to rest your soul by breathing in the breath of God, which will rest your body. His Spirit helps you take Jesus view of the Father and settle you to rest your soul and body. It is a matter of choice to remain attentive to His presence. And, staying attentive to His presence goes against the grain of the world, the flesh, and the devil (our three enemies). Resting our souls relaxes our bodies, and refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord.
Everyone needs rests for our souls and relaxation for our bodies. Settle in this faith-rest living and relax your body and mind.
A list of activities for your body and mind:
- Practice belly breathing exercises.
- Take a daily walk or exercise to keep your muscles and bodies strong.
- Create something with your hands.
- Work on word puzzles.
- Write an article, poetry, or a book.
- Take a course of your interest.
- Keep your mind sharp.
- Give yourself a grudge check and live in forgiveness.
- Do an activity you enjoy at least once a week.
Which of the above activities are you already doing? Which ones do you plan to implement?
Resting in Jesus and Relaxing in Body refresh me as a Christian woman for Living Radiantly.
Stay tuned for the third way we may glow with the Light of Christ for Living Radiantly.
- Receiving Jesus’ View of the Father gifts me with Identity in Christ.
- Resting in Jesus and Relaxing in body refresh me as a Christian Woman.
- Reflecting Holy Spirit’s power transforms darkness to light for Beautiful Surroundings.
As you find rest for your soul in Jesus love, join alongside other women in this journey, in our CMM Facebook Group. We are encouraging one another, growing in Him, and increasing in our strength to continue Living Radiantly!