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Date: Dec 15, 2008

                          Permission to Rest

Mark 6:30-32 [NIV]

   30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they 
   had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming 
   and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said 
   to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some 
   rest." 32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary 
   place.

Dear child, I don't want you to get so busy serving Me that you wear
yourself out. You must not allow yourself to come to the point of
exhaustion, for when that happens, you will have difficulty hearing 
My voice and discerning My nearness. Exhaustion damages your ability 
to draw into intimacy with Me, and it is not good for you.

Yes, I allow you to do works with Me, but our relationship is not 
based on those works. I have not created you for the tasks, but for 
personal relationship with Me. It is out of that relationship that I 
allow you to work with Me, to do with Me the things that I am doing; 
and to do them in My power and anointing.

I have set an example for you--I paced Myself when I created your
world and everything that is in it. I worked for six days and I 
reseted on the seventh--setting a precedent for you to rest from
your work as well.

It is true that there will be seasons where I call you to be very 
busy for Me, giving you many important kingdom tasks to do with Me. 
When I put you in such a season, I will give you the strength that 
you need to get through it and to do all that I have called you to 
do. 

But there will also be seasons of rest, where I do not assign you 
many tasks. Do not fret in those times, for they are meant as seasons 
of rest for you. I want you to be rested so that you stay spiritually 
keen, so that you may be able to follow the leading of My Spirit.

Do not be upset when this happens. Do not draw your sense of value
from what you do for Me. Allow My Spirit to meet you and to minister
to you in these seasons of rest. Look expectantly to Me and watch
and see how I will meet you in these times of rest. If you allow Me
to, I will draw you into new depths of intimacy with Myself and teach
you more of My ways. I will reveal more of Myself to you and I will
breathe more of My life and My refreshment into you.

Dear one, I know that at times it is hard for you to sit still and
to do nothing, but your seasons of rest are as important to Me as
your seasons of actively serving Me. I am not a harsh taskmaster
and I have not called you to grind yourself into the ground and 
to be so exhausted that you are hardly able to function. Accept
My good gift of rest and learn to rest in Me. Then watch and see
how I will open My mysteries up to you and reveal more and more
of Myself to you.

Dear one, I give you permission to rest.