From the Desk of Steve Shultz:
Many are sharing that this is a busy season for them in the Lord...and in the new work He is calling us to, we must remain at REST in Him. Now, resting doesn't mean lack of activity, but actually being at peace and trusting Him through the journey.
Candice Simmons also shares a potent word about the current situations we see happening in the world and what our posture should be:
In the wake of all the recent tragedies, the Lord has been speaking to me about rest this month. Not a physical rest, but a heart rest – a rest that comes from trusting Him and resting the whole of our problems with Him. When things don't go as we planned and terrible things happen, it can be awfully hard for our hearts to remain in His rest.
The Father wants to heal your wounded heart as you step into the safe place of His love for you. I can still hear the voice of the Father in the dream calling us to come in. He is gently calling out, "Come." There is not a sweeter word than "Come." He wants to bring you into His love, into the safe place of His heart, to sequester your heart in your difficult days, and bring you into the resting place of His love.
Amen! Let this word minister to you and help you find REST in Him! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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Enjoy!
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News
http://www.elijahlist.com
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"In the Chaos Come, Rest in God and Be Refreshed"
by Candice Simmons, Wichita, KS
In the wake of all the recent tragedies, the Lord has been speaking to me about rest this month. Not a physical rest, but a heart rest – a rest that comes from trusting Him and resting the whole of our problems with Him. When things don't go as we planned and terrible things happen, it can be awfully hard for our hearts to remain in His rest.
Dreams of Goshen
You may be one of those who are feeling a sense of desperation and weakness in knowing there is nothing you can do on this earth to change your situation. We can thank God that the end of our strength is the beginning of His. I prophesy that you will enter into His peace that passes all understanding. For His love is coming to you to draw you into a place of His rest right now. "...His love stood with me and gave me strength..." (2 Tim. 4:17).
I've had several dreams about Goshen lately. Each time I would see the Lord leading His people in. (Goshen was the land in Egypt that Pharaoh, during Joseph's time, had set apart for the Israelites during a very difficult time of famine.) It was in Goshen that the Israelites grew and multiplied. Also, in the time of the plagues, it was the only place free of flies and hail, which can represent unhealed wounds and serious pain and disappointment (Ex. 8:22 and Ex 9:26).
The Father wants to heal your wounded heart as you step into the safe place of His love for you. I can still hear the voice of the Father in the dream calling us to come in. He is gently calling out, "Come." There is not a sweeter word than "Come." He wants to bring you into His love, into the safe place of His heart, to sequester your heart in your difficult days, and bring you into the resting place of His love.
Psalm 46:1 says, "God You're such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You're a proven help in time of trouble—more than enough and always available whenever I need You."
Like the maiden in Song of Songs we must find Him, the One that we adore, and fasten Him to our hearts once again. We cannot afford to lose what we once enjoyed—that first love feeling. Nothing can take its place. So just let Him draw you in, right now. He's come to draw you in. "You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to Him" (Genesis 45:10).
Eat From His Tree
I've also been dreaming about apple tree experiences. I had one dream that I was being led down a garden path through an apple orchard. I was looking for one particular kind of apple tree; the tree that was the most beautiful tree in the orchard and had on its branches the best fruit. I knew that if I ate from that tree, I would feel fulfilled. "My Beloved is to me as the finest, fragrant apple tree—He stands above the sons of men. Sitting under His grace- shadow, I blossom in His shade, enjoying the sweet taste of His pleasant, delicious fruit, resting with delight where His glory never fades" (Song of Solomon 2:3).
"He stands above the sons of men" (Song of Solomon 2:3)! This is a picture of Jesus, our Beloved. He is the tree that "stands above the sons of men." It's time to sit under His grace- shadow and blossom in His shade. And His words are like "apples of gold in fittings of silver," golden apples—"A Word fitly spoken are like apples of gold in fittings of silver."
These are His love apples: the words of affirmation that He speaks over our lives. And we are those fittings of silver. He speaks His promises over us through His Word and they are beautifully displayed (fitted) into our redeemed lives.
In my dream, we not only ate from His tree, but we heard the tree singing over us and a refreshing voice of love cascaded over each one like a waterfall of healing. He is singing over you today. He rejoices over you with singing (Zeph. 3:17). He rejoices in your love.
And not only is Jesus represented by an apple tree, but He is a vine and we are His branches. He tells us: "Abide in Me." We must remain in Him each moment, clinging in grace to His hand. For a branch does not come and go, it remains with the vine; connected to its source. Real love will cling to Him...no matter what.
Here's an excerpt of a blog my granddaughter, Brianna Nowell, wrote recently that speaks into the heart of the matter:
"Don't be surprised when you speak to the mountain and it doesn't move. Don't be surprised if it seems to grow taller and more treacherous than before. Don't be surprised when you turn away and see God is standing there, with His arms wide open, beckoning you to come to Him.
"The mountain you have been speaking to was never yours, it is HIS. When you turn to Him—turn your heart, eyes and gaze to Him—then the mountain will not be your focus. All you will see is a good Father, with His arms out, asking you to come to Him.
"The mountain and memory of it will fade away and the promises, the DNA of your purpose, will be revealed to you. The mountain will crumble and you won't even have to walk on it, or get over it, because it is gone, and God has removed it! Now He has your heart and now you know your purpose.
"The plan was never to face this mountain alone, it was to turn to the One who makes all things possible. To align your heart with the genetics of His goodness and love. In His arms you WILL be safe. In His love fear WILL be gone. Knowing Him WILL be the freedom you have been searching for. The mountain WILL fall."
Time for the mountain to go. Time for rest. Time to come to the place where you can be refreshed.
The "Re's"
The Lord has been speaking to me using the little prefix re (He established this with me at the beginning of the year). Even this week He said to me these words, "I'm re-claiming things that have been lost. I'm re-gaining the ground for you of what the enemy has tried to destroy. I will re-store, re-vitalize and re-vive communities and peoples."
It's time to sequester your heart in Goshen. "You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence" (Isaiah 30:15). Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. And then watch as He ignites your heart to run faster, to soar higher and to go deeper with Him. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
"You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me." (Genesis 45:10)
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