CELEBRATE January 22 2020

In the past few years, I have started off the year praying about what God wants my focus to be. Last year, the word placed on my heart was: rest. I figured it wasn't that deep. I was a new mom. I work. I was weeding through unresolved hurt. And, I was tired. Like, physically. But out of curiosity, and because I had a new interest in words, I looked it up in my Strong's Concordance. To my surprise, this little word appears in the Bible almost 300 times. And, there are some 40 odd definitions of the word.
This had to mean there was more to rest than just sleep, right?
I mean, at first glance, yes, I need sleep! But God...being beyond-beyond, took rest after creating the Heavens and the Earth. So, clearly I wasn't off base with knowing I needed physical rest. But what I learned is scripture is blanketed with all these various definitions that had me realizing this is something that has to be learned. It has to be a practiced.
So, I spent 2019 learning what it means to rest in Him. I know it sounds crazy, learning and practicing rest. But my friend, what was on the other side of this...
I don't move like I used to. Things hit differently now. My 'to-do' list is shorter. And, my stress level has definitely been lowered. When you learn to rest in Him, you learn to "cease", or "put away" as some of the definitions explain.
How great God is!
That He would led me at the end of the year to "celebrate", one of the many definitions of this weighty word. And I did just that. I celebrated all that He has done, all that He is, and all that He has called me to do.
God gave us rest for a reason. It is such a liberating thing. It truly is a blessing and a necessary thing to keep going along this CHOSEN journey.
God gave you the permission. I'm just inviting you to the party!
Let's Celebrate!
S/S 2020
Rest in the Lord.
"Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find REST for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
~Matthew 11:28-30
I'd love to hear about your thoughts on rest, your challenges, your successes, practices etc. And if you would like, I would love to have myself and my prayer group to pray for you. Contact me: cassandra@chosen-apparel.com and use "rest" in the subject line.