Rest and Rise Bible Study: Week 4
Hey there, fellow adventurers!
This is Week 3 of the "Rest and Rise: Be Refreshed In Your Work" sneak peak.
In case you missed it, here's:
Walk through a sample study with us every week leading up to the official launch on February 27th.
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And without further ado, please enjoy the excerpt below:
Rest
REST
Find a prayerful position, settle in, and fill in the prayer below: Jesus,
Thank you for ____________________________________________. You are my __________________ (i.e. Shield, Lord of Hosts, Overcomer).
I give up my cares and plans to You today:
Set a timer for ten minutes. Breathe deeply and release every muscle, starting from your toes and working up to your forehead. When your mind starts to wander like an ox for greener pastures, repeat Jesus’s words, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Let me rest my worth in your finished work. Let this offering of silence be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen!
Reflect
This easy yoke of Christ, also spoken about as the cross, refers to John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Read Leviticus 19:18. How is John 13:34 a new commandment? Think about who is speaking in each Scripture.
Jesus’ burden is easy because He is the one who fulfills it. He gives us rules not as a restriction but as a fitting frame for our finite selves. Paul Brand, in his book Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, compares our bones to the law: they allow the body freedom to move—until one is broken. Write down how the writers of this Bible viewed the law:
Psalm 119:174
1 John 5:3
"Christ's yoke is like feathers to a bird; not loads, but helps to motion."—Jeremy Taylor
In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” The world may not get easier, but in Christ, our hearts become lighter. Circle or highlight the verse below that speaks most to you:
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
—Isaiah 40:31
Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah - Psalm 61:4
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5
Rise
Let’s try something together. Turn up the corners of your mouth into a smile. Did anything around you change? Did the trash take itself out, or the paper write itself? More importantly, did anything inside of you change?
As the muscles of our mouth lift into a smile, may the Lord be the lifter of our heart. Let us count all our trials and toiling as joy, for joy is not a byproduct of success—it is a pure and holy gift from God through Christ. No matter what our job title is, let us be occupied with joy.
Write out a prayer for the day here. Ask the Lord for the faith and strength to live out 2 Peter 1:5-8 to keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ.
Refresh Athens: A Rest and Rise Release Party
To celebrate the release of "Rest and Rise," I'm inviting you to Refresh Athens: A Rest and Rise Release Party on February 28th!
There will be live music by Oh Jeremiah, holy yoga with TransFit Athens, essential oil samples, hot tea, a merchandise table, and book signing! Click the link below for more info and to snag your ticket. Hope to see you there!