Reconciled Rest
I can be content through Christ who strengthens me. -me
"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." - Phil 4:10-13
Reconciliation is a pathway to healing, wholeness, forgiveness, love, joy, and peace. So much is needed in our lives regarding rest. We've been stuck in a chaotic mentality where we are chronic users and abusers of busy-ness. "Achievement" in a worldly sense is labeled and enabled as success. But when we sit down to rest, we're bored. When we stand in line waiting for coffee at a Starbucks, we're bored. When we're driving and stuck in traffic, we're bored. Instead of finding moments of peace, we crave distraction.
We. Are. Addicted. To. Distraction.
If the devil can't make you sin, he'll make you busy.
-Corrie ten Boom
And boy, did the devil have a grip on me for 31 years. But by the grace of God, I was pulled out of this stronghold with a brand new perspective, reconciled rest. As Phil 4:10-13 says, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Now this was Paul writing a letter to the congregation of Philippi... while in prison... CONTENT? In PRISON?
I identify with Paul so much. No, I haven't been imprisoned and I am most definitely and will always be a woman (born with a uterus and ovaries). But, Saul had an old self-- that he turned from. I don't know if you know even part of my testimony, but it includes an old self that is no longer, and a new self ALL FOR JESUS no matter what comes my way. So I look to Paul (originally from Jesus) for the wisdom I very much need.
To stop the busy-ness. To look to Jesus for the strength to resist Bernays evil tactics. Let me tell you how that's happened for me.
Getting off social media. If you know me, you know that social media was life. If something happened, you knew about it because I posted it. My screen time has nearly halved in the past few weeks. I still use it (my cellular device) for audible, bible app, texting, libby, pinterest (crafty ideas), podcasts, etc. But my social media time last week was 22 minutes (probably looking at marketplace for something I needed).
With all this time, I have been in The Word more, with my children more (Kendra's lost a couple teeth, learned to ride a bike, jumped off a diving board, Leela started reading three letter words with ease), and I've actually played chess twice with my husband.
I've gone outside with no purpose but to sit and listen to the sounds that God created. I've sat in full gratitude for food in my belly. I've been silly with my kids instead of saying, "not right now."
Earlier last year, I set a time limit of 1 hour of social media. I think we all (my family) noticed a significant difference in my demeanor. But honestly, I would oftentimes ignore this limit and spend way more than an hour. It would be a stumbling block to my relationship with my husband, and honestly I blamed this blockage on him sometimes... I cannot believe I was so naïve to my own log. And I don't want to go back.
The way I encountered reconciled rest was because of the Lord. He kept calling me to it. In a Sunday School book study "It's All Under Control", a book called "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" given to me by a member of that study. Then, I would hear it from our bible study D-Group ... And our Sunday sermon and my husband and my sister... The list goes on and on.
Well the lightbulb of Jesus & contentment finally lit up. And I am loving it. The only thing I bought on Amazon prime day was things we needed (vitamins). And I look forward to staying off social media as much as possible, so I can be present in this moment with everything that I have been blessed with.
And I pray for you to find contentment with all you have in this moment. Not wanting for just a moment. Taking a break from chaos, unease, distraction, and ultimately separation from Christ. For me, these things stemmed from social media a HUGE distraction and literally designed to pull us away from the things that truly matter.
Grace & peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many blessings,
Your SIC (Sister in Christ), Hillary Kate