I’ve been kinda quiet lately…part of how I’m learning to “be still”. But in this fast pace world we live in, it’s not very easy to “stay” still…so much to do…so much coming at us. So what God is showing me is that “being still” is often a state of mind rather than literally the body being still….and it’s an amazing Faith experience.

As I’m learning to be still and REST in Him, I am experiencing RESToration in many areas of my life. My Boss noticed that my sales this month have been primarily previous clients returning…that’s the best kind, of course. And I’ve had several gals come back in…who for whatever reason had seemed to have developed a friction with me. But now situations have occurred where my heart has shone through to them as I rose above the friction to help them…and they have received it and been thrilled with what I’ve done for them. And I’m thrilled to have them as loyal clients. And this past week, several friendships have been restored that I thought were lost…or simply “misplaced”…and sorely missed. Such a blessing to have them back in my life.

But the lesson in RESTing keeps going deeper. Saturday was a really good, but really hard day at work. So I spent that evening with a rare REST time at home, sharing and laughing on the phone. Then Sunday morning, I stayed in to watch more of a DVD teaching…and I almost cried as I watched as the concepts of what God has been teaching me were confirmed in this teaching…even down to specific verses. In His amazing lovingkindness, God doesn’t miss a detail. And it strengthens my TRUST in Him and so my FAITH is strengthened.

And I’ve been realizing ever since how very much I need it. Right before leaving for work, I remembered I never got the mail from Saturday. What I found was not at all expected. I have been in a continual “battle” to get something rectified that wasn’t handled properly by a professional whom I trusted…when I received the letter, the “old me” would have freaked…lost my patience and my REST. But I CHOSE to stay grounded in HIM…who allowed the circumstances. And when I was able to call about it yesterday morning, it was all resolved…just a standard letter that slipped through the computer system. Yes, I am relieved and thank-full…but that wasn’t the VICTORY…my unshaken FAITH was. It resulted in a confident assurance in My Heavenly Father…and the “peace that passes understanding” that seems to be so elusive in these manic days. Again…more blessing.

But what has happened to me personally pales to what is happening around me…there is a tremendous storm that I’m walking through. My sister’s friend I ran into at Big Lots had a heart attack last week; someone in my company has recurring cancer— is consumed with it…and it’s an opportunity to pray for everyone involved and share my Faith among my coworkers as this epic struggle for life is played out…made even more tragic by the fact that this person isn’t a Believer; and I received a call yesterday about a dear loved one who also is facing recurring cancer…with three children. So much pain.

And as I was praying in the middle of the night…I was gently reminded: true RESTing in God isn’t about sitting around doing nothing…it’s about RESTing our EMOTIONS IN HIM. When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he so wanted to BE with Jesus that he simply CHOSE to be. And he was quite literally experiencing a FAITH WALK…until he saw the wind…and he became afraid. He was truly living ABOVE his circumstances…until he allowed his emotions to take over…and then he began to sink into the water…and out of FAITH.

So I believe that this is the true lesson in RESTing…to live above our circumstances is to rest our emotions on Him who can calm the storm because he created the sea. Trusting solely in the ONE who claimed “It is finished” as He hung from a cross and now sits in Victory at the right hand of our Heavenly Father. And when we CHOOSE to BELIEVE IN HIM….and learn to TRUST so strongly that we can REST our emotions IN HIM…we may not literally walk on water like Peter…but it will surely “feel” like we are…and that is the true JOY of a FAITH WALK. 🙂

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV84)

“Immediately (after the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000) Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33 NIV84)