Series: Flowers in the Desert
Matthew 11:28 ESV
The Agave Parriyi is an interesting desert plant.
It posses the ability to rest for a season in the snow. This remarkable plant (also called Parry’s Agave) has the ability to survive to temperatures of -5 degrees in a dry climate.
Given the right conditions, even when it’s extremely cold this desert plant can “rest” in dry snow.
The key to the right conditions for rest us is imperative. Receiving God’s rest often requires a few instantaneous and sometimes intentional acts.
We are not speaking of works-righteousness here, so take that off the table.
We are seeking awareness of God’s presence. While God is always present in our lives we are not aware of that presence.
That’s often because we are busy busy busy.
We do not slow down long enough to be aware of the presence of the Spirit. Because we are unaware of God’s presence, our focus is otherwise engaged. Our focus can be on the list of things we are working on, it can be on our emotional pain, or it can be on a project we’re looking to finish. Whatever the “thing” is that we are focused on, it means we are focused on that and we are not aware of the presence of the Spirit.
In Matthew 11:28 God issues an invitation that reminds us of the presence of the Spirit in this world. We are invited to come. It’s not a general invitation. It’s personal. God is telling you, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
The invitation is to an awareness of the presence of the Spirit.
Many people miss a key element in desiring the presence of the Spirit. That key element is very simple, but it’s also very hard.
Allow me to explain.
When I was a wee lass, my da would do this “thing” when he had something very important to say to me. He would stop (like stop the world), make eye contact with me, and get me to breath in sync with his breathing pattern.
Once I had relaxed enough to be aware of the non-verbal connection we had then he would speak to me and reveal truth.
God is no different.
We need to stop. We need to make space in our heart and mind for God. We need to connect with God.
The words in Matthew 11:28, “come to me” means we stop, give God space, and open our heart and hands to God.
When we stop for one second, we are making space so we can connect to God. That simple instantaneous act that gives God permission is important because God is ever so gentle with His children.
A Pastor I sat under once said, “you’ve got to get off the eight lane freeway” so you can hear God.
If you desire to be filled with the Spirit of the living God, you need to get off an exit ramp in your mind and think how much you desire God, which can enable you to breath with God.
My Spiritual Director used to tell me to open my hands to God. In doing that you give God permission to come. God does not force the Spirit upon us. Ever. God knows you are hurting and we are often carrying a heavy load. But because God will not force us to receive the Spirit, we need to be open to receiving the Spirit.
We need to slow down.
We need to open our heart and mind.
We need to receive the Spirit.
The first time it happened to me I was 14 years old.
Receiving the Spirit of the living God is life changing.
It alters our focus.
I readily admit I am a junkie. I desire the movement of the Spirit constantly. The more I desire the Spirit, the more I desire the Spirit.
Being in sync with the Spirit of God is instantaneous, and extraordinary.
I can’t imagine life without it.
Here’s the deal…regardless of what you’re going through, being “in the Spirit” makes everything alright.
I’ve written before about hitting “the wall”. When it happened in an instant I was on a downhill spiral and I lost the life I knew. Even though I physically lost everything, I did not lose God. Nearly twenty years ago now I can tell you the Spirit of God carried me every day in every way. While I did not lose my children, for a brief time they didn’t know what was happening.
In time the Spirit of God directed me to a new life, a new church (which was awesome), new friends, a new home, and a new life. My relationship with my children was strengthened in my new life.
God had it all covered, and has blessed me in mighty ways I never expected.
The Spirit continues to bless me every time I become aware of the Spirit in me (I remember God) and I stop (slow down), think about God, and desire God, the Spirit breathes with me. Mind you, the Spirit is always in me, but I receive a renewed awareness of the Spirit.
Today whether it’s your first time or a thousand times over, COME and REST and receive the Spirit of God.
Spiritual Practice: Receive
Stop…slow down and open your hands to receive the breath of God. God will do the rest.
In God, Deborah
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