HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S REST

If you have never asked God for His comfort and rest, you can come to Him by acknowledging your belief in who He is, what He has done for you, and your personal need for Him. You need to believe that you are a sinner, and because of that sin, you have been separated from God and the hope He offers. You need to believe that Jesus Christ died in your place so that you would not have to experience eternal death, the punishment for your sin. You can come to God with a simple prayer from your heart:

Lord,

 I need Your help. I am overwhelmed with physical and spiritual needs that only You can meet. I’ve tried to make things right on my own, but I realize now that I can’t. I want to stop working to save myself and trust in the grace of Jesus Christ for my salvation and eternal life. I need Your comfort as I face my daily struggles. Please forgive me for my sin and failure to acknowledge You as Lord of my life. Thank you for sending Your Son to die so I can live daily in the hope, joy and peace that is available to me when I entrust my life to You.
 

Amen.

Things are different now

The problems and trials in your life will not instantly disappear when you entrust your life to Christ. But if you invited Christ into your life, things are definitely different now. For starters, you are no longer enslaved to the circumstances, people and troubles in your life. They have no power over you now.

Here’s what else has changed:

* Your identity is in Christ. You are no longer defined by your circumstances or your marital status. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

* God accepts you on the basis of Christ’s finished work. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life on your behalf, and because He paid your sin debt by dying on the cross, you are now perfect in God’s sight for eternity. Hebrews 10:14 says, “[B]y one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

* God will be with you in your struggles. Being a Christian doesn’t mean all your problems will magically disappear. In fact, Jesus told His disciples to expect adversity and tribulation in this life. But God promises not only to meet us in our suffering, but also to use our suffering for good. Isaiah 43:2a says,“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you".

* You received the gift of eternal life. God considers you part of His family, and you will be with Him forever. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

* You can find God’s peace. When you turn to Him with your problems and pain, God has promised to give you His peace. Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What’s next?

Because of Christ, you are now a new creation. You have been forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God, and you are free from sin’s power in your life. If you have questions about your new relationship with God, talk with your pastor, your Single & Parenting leader or a spiritually mature Christian friend. They can help you grow even closer to God and understand how the gospel (the good news of what Jesus has done for us) applies to your everyday life.

#GabrielOnyema