Here is an interesting observation, do you notice how attractive and encouraging talking about ‘rest’, ‘peace’, ‘stillness’, ‘sabbath’ and ‘decluttering’ is yet I find not many who are actively doing this or succeeding in this pursuit, why is that? Why, if we are so aware of how in need we are of these things do we find it so difficult to
achieve?

The answer is we are pursuing a feeling rather than a Person. If you aim at nothing, you will always hit it. Whenever we set out to achieve peace and rest our expectation will always naturally be the pursuit of an experience or a feeling; unless we are clear about what we are relentlessly and intentionally aiming at. You see the goal that
Jesus desires for each one of us is not a life of trying to earn or add something, but its a radical, transformational, fixated life of unlearning, laying down control, obedience and surrendering to a person, Jesus and the fruits that will eventually bear will be peace, rest and stillness etc.

When we truly wait, Jesus is able to deal with us. Throughout Scripture, it was in the waiting that each person was equipped.

So, what’s our next step?

Firstly, with all the zeal in our bodies we must be fixated on building our lives around the intimate and near Person of Jesus. Jesus says in the Gospels that anyone can be his disciple if they ‘deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him’. We think our problem is that we struggle to ‘follow’ but that’s actually not a real problem in our lives. We follow many things – careers, finances, fear, etc. The question is not whether you are following but who you are following. Our problem is not following, its denying. Jesus cannot be something you add, he has not given us that luxury. He wants all of you.

Secondly, we do not move on from this first step, we move in deeper. I have found it so helpful to try learn to be as intentional about listening as much as possible so that I can stay reminded that he is a Father that wants to speak. Jesus says, ‘seek his Kingdom…and fear not for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom’
(Luke 12:31-32). If my aim is the Person of Jesus, I know the results will be peace which comes from an awareness that he is near, if my aim is just peace, I am a slave to my emotions, mind and the world around me.

Thirdly, when our pursuit is of a Person; pain, fear and anxiety become opportunities or doorways to encounter Jesus. At my most still moments, is when the war of emotions is raging its loudest. I don’t stop, because my goal is not a feeling.

Let this sink in – break free from the addiction of trying hard to ‘find’ Jesus, but rather start allowing Jesus to find you.

How do we make sure we know we are doing this? Keep yourself in the radical middle of Word and Spirit. Know the Bible, consume the Bible, make it your foundation for whats right and wrong. Partnered with that, keep yourself sensitive and aware of His intimate presence that is always with you. Know the Word and allow his Spirit to empower you to be able to do it. When you do this, you will have beautiful encounters and really painful emotions but more than that you will be clearer and more aware of the greatest joy of knowing- He was always there.

God Bless

David Skevington