My Rest

FATHER, how good the word “rest” sounds. And, there is a rest for me. This state of blessedness manifests itself as I embrace the Gospel.

Since I believe CHRIST JESUS has given what You require from me, I enter into rest (ref#15, [Heb 4:10]). My experience of rest is ceasing from my own works of righteousness, and from the burdensome works of the law just as You and Your Son ceased from Your “works of creation and redemption” (ref#18, [Heb 4:10]).

Since CHRIST impresses You; I don’t have to impress You. Resting in CHRIST is a state of happiness. My salvation does not depend on my continuing work of being righteous!

But FATHER, keep me abreast of situations that threaten my rest. Situations continually rise to steal what You freely give me through CHRIST. Happiness disappears when I lose fellowship with You and default back to trying in my own strength to be righteous.

Impress upon me that if I don’t rehearse the Gospel I will fall back into burdensome works and be void of rest. FATHER, I know preaching the gospel to myself each day will equip me with more boldness to believe what You say. I’ll recognize and benefit more from Your grace and be more willing to embrace Your commands (ref#60, p52). By reveling in CHRIST I retain our fellowship and find my rest! As I rehearse the Gospel, “give me that rest without rest, the rest of ceaseless praise” (ref#76, p172).

The Work of Conviction

FATHER, the discovery of my sin is a part of the wisdom that is hid in CHRIST and made known to me through the SPIRIT (Col 2:2,3). If I am not attentive to the SPIRIT I only have a sense and knowledge of sin that is revealed by my conscience; it is the general knowledge of good and evil. But, it’s obscure so I notice my own faults only if they are very obvious or I sin in such a way that they are particularly embarrassing to me (ref#35, p200).

Familiarizing myself with the laws set down in the Old Testament helps me recognize more of my corruptions. But even laws do nothing to make me see my deep personal sin (ref#35, p202).

The work of conviction, from Your SPIRIT, gives me the best knowledge of sin. This knowledge is so useful that it reveals sins that I, on my own, do not have the ability to detect; these sins must be made real to me by Your SPIRIT—a source not connected with my native nature (ref#35, p202).

I thank You FATHER, for Your SPIRIT’s conviction. I am not offended when I recognize His voice, instead, I’m humbled. He has the ability to convince me of sin in such a way that I’m unable to deny His words and am ready to repent. I thank You, FATHER, that Your SPIRIT not only is able to point out my sins but has the ability to accomplish in me the sorrow for sin which leads me to the obedience You require. So, search me, O GOD, and see if there is any grievous way in me and then lead me in the right way (Ps 139:23-24).

“I rejoice to think that all things are at Thy disposal, and I love to leave them there. Then prayer turns wholly into praise, and all I can do is to adore and love thee” (ref#76, p49).

Salvation

You, GREAT FATHER, have given me faith to know of Your existence (Heb 11:6).
You have formed me from the dust
and breathed living life into me (Gen 2:7).

Your standards are most glorious
but I fall short of them (Rom 3:23). Therefore, You destine me to die;
And I face Your certain wrath (Heb 9:27).

But, by Your free gift of grace
I am delivered from Your judgment.
You make me a partaker of CHRIST’s salvation through my faith and not through my striving (Eph 2:8).

You make my death temporal
not letting me continue under its power. You give me a resurrection
to life eternal (John 11:26).

CHRIST is the way, the truth, and the life.
I come to You, GOD, through CHRIST (John 14:6). He bore my sins so I might die to them.
Through CHRIST I can live rightly (1 Pet 2:24).

Through CHRIST, through CHIRST, I turn to praise.
I adore and love Thee—
through CHRIST, through CHRIST.