The Sabbath Rest

October 8, Day 40–The Word–

     "I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them" (Jeremiah 32:39).
   
Thoughts
     In his book Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard states that the current gospel has become a "gospel of sin management . . . Transformation of life and character is no part of the redemptive message." Many Christians hunger to live victoriously, but they are unaware of the possibility of a transformed character.
     Yet the unrest in our spirits tells us there should be a way to live so that all our desire is to please God. The pure delight of living so deeply in Christ that our lives are characterized by a sabbath rest is a wistful longing even for many Christians. Fortunately, a life of rest in our spirits is the life God has planned for us.
     In an earlier email I mentioned Sharon's moment of full surrender when she experienced that profound sabbath rest in her spirit. A couple years later I asked her to describe the difference in her life since that day.
     She said, "In earlier days, when life was unraveling at the seams and I had nothing to hang on to except God Himself, it became a matter of sheer choice to trust Him. I then would have, at best, an intermittent rest. Now it's an abiding rest. The rest is a gift from God. It is nothing I do other than keeping my faith focused on God."
     The new heart God promises has a single motive! No longer is "sin within" causing an inner civil war. God changes our hearts so that we can say with Jesus, "I delight to do your will, O Lord; your law is within my heart" or, as Sharon said, "The desire to obey Him is as natural as breathing."
     Transformation of life and character is a glorious part of the redemptive message!

Come to the Fire Prayer Requests
     Plead the blood of Jesus over our services. Pray that every heart will be obedient to Christ's leading and that distractions will be minimized. In the name of Jesus, bind the enemy from hindering God's work.
     Pray for physical, emotional, and spiritual healings. Pray that women will come to understand the absolute need to surrender everything to God. Ask for deliverance from the bonds of alcoholism, drugs, sexual addictions, and immorality.
     Believe that God will do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you ask or think.