Dance Devotional Day 7

 

Day 7

Rest

Matthew 11:28-30 [AMP](MSG)<TPT>; Proverbs 3:3-26 [AMP](MSG)<TPT>

“Come to Me, (get away with Me) all who are weary 

(worn out? Burned out) and heavily burdened 

[by religious rituals that provide no peace], 

and I will (recover your life) give you rest 

[refreshing your souls with salvation]

(I'll show you how to take a real rest.)

<I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis>.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me 

[following Me as My disciple] (watch how I do it)

(walk with Me and work with Me) 

<join your life with Mine>

(Learn the unforced rhythms of grace), 

for I am gentle and humble in heart <easy to please>, 

and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) 

<refreshment> for your souls <in Me>.

(I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you).

For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.

(Keep company with Me 

and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.)

<All that I require of you 

will be pleasant and easy to bear.>”

Matthew 11:28-30

'Do not let mercy and kindness and truth

(loyal love) leave you

[instead let these qualities define you];

Bind them [securely] around your neck,

<be faithful to all that you've been taught

and let your life be shaped by integrity>

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

So find favor and high esteem

<a reputation of living life well>

in the sight of God and man.

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart

And do not rely on your own <opinions>

insight or understanding.

(Don't try to figure out everything on your own).

In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,

(listen for God's voice in everything you do,

everywhere you go) and He will make your paths straight

and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]

<lead you in every decision you make.

Become intimate with Him in everything you do>.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

<wisdom comes when you adore Him

with undivided devotion>

Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience]

and turn [entirely] away from evil.

(Run to God! Run from evil!)

<You will find> It will be health to your body

[your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles

—all your inner parts (will glow)]

And refreshment (physical well-being)

to your bones. (Your very bones will vibrate with life)

Honor <glorify> the Lord with your wealth

(everything you own) <every increase that comes to you>

And with the first fruits (the best) of all your crops (income);

Then <every dimension of your life>

your barns will (burst) be abundantly filled

And your vats will overflow with new wine

<from an uncontainable source of inner joy>!

My son, do not reject or take lightly

<when the Lord speaks to you> the discipline of the Lord

[learn from your mistakes and the testing

that comes from His correction through discipline];

(Don't sulk under His loving correction).

<Never be upset> nor despise His rebuke,

(it's the child He loves that God corrects;

a father's delight <love and passionate pleasure for you>

is behind all this).

Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired]

is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom,

And the man who gains understanding and insight

[learning from God’s word and life’s experiences],

For wisdom’s profit is better than the profit of silver,

And her gain is better than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

And nothing you can wish for compares with her [in value].

Long life is in her right hand;

In her left hand are riches and honor (recognition)

<promotion>.

Her ways are highways of pleasantness and favor,

And all her paths are peace.

(Her manner is beautiful <sweet>, her life

<always drawing you to a place of> wonderfully complete

<wholeness>).

She is a <healing> tree of life <the discovery of untold

blessings> <a fountain of blessing pouring into their lives>

to those who take hold of her,

And happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired]

is everyone who holds her tightly.

The Lord by His wisdom<'s blueprints> has founded the earth;

By His <living> understanding He has established the heavens

<all the universe came into being>.

By His knowledge <divine revelation> the

<hidden foundations of the> deeps were broken up

And the clouds drip with dew.

My son, let them not (for a minute) escape from your sight,

(guard them with your life) but keep <walk in> sound wisdom

(clear thinking) and <discover> discretion (common sense),

<Don't forget how they empower you>

And they will <strengthen you> be life to your soul

(your inner self) and a gracious adornment to your neck

(your outer self)

(they'll keep you fit <energized> and attractive).

Then you will walk on <living hope> your way [of life]

<to guide you> securely

and your foot will not stumble <not one of life's tests>.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

(You'll take afternoon naps without a worry)

Do not be afraid of sudden fear

(No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions)

<nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside>

Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes

[since you will be blameless];

For the Lord will be your confidence, firm and strong,

(right there with you)

And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap].

(He'll keep you safe and sound)

<keeping your heart at rest in every situation.'

Proverbs 3:3-26

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still remains and is freely offered (for us) today, 

let us fear (we must be extremely careful), (to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise)

in case any one of you may seem to come short of reaching it (fail to experience it) or think he has come too late. 

For indeed we have had (heard) the good news (the Word) [of salvation] (of deliverance) preached to us, just as the Israelites also [when the good news of the promised land came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was (instead) not united with faith [in God] by those who heard (what they heard didn't affect them deeply, for they doubted). 

For we who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest (as faith activates the promise)[so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power] (experience the realm of confident rest)

, just as He has said,

“As I swore [an oath] in My wrath,
They shall not enter My rest,”
[this He said] although His works were completed from the foundation of the world [waiting for all who would believe]. ‭‭

Hebrews‬ ‭4:1-3‬ ‭[AMP](TPT)‬‬ 

Come To Me - David Baloche

Lyrics:

Come to me all who are weary and burdened

Come to me all who are tired and loaded down

Come to me all you who toil and labor

and I will give you rest

When you lie down

you will not be afraid

When you lie down

your sleep will be sweet 

Reflection:

Have you been running?

Have you been pressured?

Have you been hurting?

Have you been longing?

Like your life depends on it,

direct your focus to abandon;

throw everything down;

everything long enough 

to run to Me

Absolutely everything

I share with you

is Life.

I am your life line.

Take the connector line from your heart

to mine and soak in my life blood 

and have your relief.

Your spirit and My Spirit dance 

opening the house of your heart

and releasing the weight I didn't give you Myself

with the wingspan of the universe

I open you and you invite me in to your secret place

to receive divine hidden surprise gifts of

twirling energy, and banners waving with refreshment

over all of you as the enemy flees the attempt to keep

you weighted down with discouragement

and a heavy chest.

I Am your forever life battery charger

I Am your finest buffet feast 

I Am Worthy of you giving up on all your ways

all your thoughts, all your moves.

Every time you point at the very thing you will say or do,

grab your soul's shaky hand and give it to Me as a living sacrifice

and your Spirit hand will confidently, beautifully point through life with Me

As you squat, 

readying yourself 

to jump into something 

I have not breathed life over;

Turn around and backstroke, My Olympic swimmer

back into the waterfall of My Life Presence and Wisdom

My arms cover yours as we walk, breathe, run and take 

what I had planned to bless you with.

Take Rest in and with Me

Take Peace in and with Me.

Lean back on My chest and listen to the lullabies of wisdom

I have to sing over you into refreshment and New Life

set apart from what you had put on yourself

from what your family has put on you

from what your friends have put on you

from what your community has put on you

from what your leaders and partners have put on you

I take your hands and show you how to change out of the garments of oppression

into the garments of arm casting praise for freedom to run to Me