How to Take a Real Rest!

I recall once using this visual example to illustrate a "displacement" thought I was conveying. Dropping several lit matches into a clear plastic container and blowing them out, I then illustrated the difficulty in trying to rid the smoke-filled bottle of its dense cloud. I shook it, turned it upside down, even threatened it... all to no avail. (We often find ourselves similarly struggling to rid our lives of their murky entanglements, don't we?)

Demonstrating my point, I simply began filling the container with water. With results even better than expected, as the water rose, a perfect column of smoke exited the bottle. With total ease, the water displaced any trace of smoke from within the 2L bottle.

Have you noticed how effortlessly light dispels darkness? As consuming and ominous as looming darkness may appear, it is no match for the smallest light. In the darkest of rooms, if I willfully flip the light switch, darkness plays no role in the process. Zero influence! It cannot inhibit or slow the light from filling the room. ...Just as the smoke was no factor at all and presented no obstacle whatsoever to the rising water.

I love meditating on the Acts 3 reference, times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. When the Presence of God invades your vessel (you), when you genuinely encounter Father, the weight of oppression poses no challenge. The spirit of heaviness (Is.61) is powerless to resist when I willfully put on the garment of worship, just as dark is powerless to defy light (when I willfully flip the switch).

Each of us has struggled at one time or another to "keep oppression, fear and doubt at bay." There is a better way. Flood the bottle. Hit the switch or the reset (re-focus) button. Reach for the Presence! Jesus said, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." (Mt.11:28 MSG) Amen! There is no substitute for the Presence! Selah.\o/