Dependent on God

Resting is a way of humbling ourselves before God and saying, “I know you're the one who's in control.” In Leviticus 25, God instructed his people to allow there to be a rhythm of rest even with the land. On every seventh year, they were to let the land rest in this agricultural society, where they were completely dependent upon the ground to live. But God told them that would take care of them and provide during this seventh year. He had built this into creation, but they had to honor him in that seventh year in order to experience his blessings from the previous years. 

One way to view this is to start thinking of resting the way you think about giving. You give because you trust God, and you know that, even though it's counterintuitive to give the way that God has commanded you to give, you do it because you've experienced his faithfulness. You know that what he says is true. So, to apply that same kind of faith to rest. It's the same kind of dependent faith that shows God that you trust what he says, and you are going to be dependent on him. And if you do that, you're going to experience his blessing. He's going do more for you when you rest and honor him with these rhythms than what you could accomplish on your own by working through it, by pushing through it, and by not having this rest in your life.

We sometimes think if we just go a little bit faster or if we just push a little bit harder, then we will be pleasing our Heavenly Father. But instead, what you find is that God, the creator, is very serious about you living with this rhythm of rest and renewal. 

DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTION: In what areas of life do you find it most difficult to be dependent from God and release your own (perceived) control? What are some small ways you can start being more faithful to God in these areas?