When the Lord removes the unnecessary ‘doing’ from your outside life and evicts ‘worry, fear and condemnation’ from your inner life, suddenly there is a lot more space in your life. What is this space for?
When you have freedom, what do you do?
Praise the Lord.
When you know joy, what do you do?
Thank the Lord.
When peace resides, what do you do?
Celebrate what God has done.
Gratitude, worship and praise for all the Lord has done is the only ‘doing’ that can fill the space without stealing it. As we celebrate God’s glory that surrounds us, we stoke the wall of fire that stops ‘unnecessary doing, worry, fear and condemnation’ from returning to our life.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:15-17
Thank you. I woke up feeling exactly this, happy and full of praise, I continue to thank, worship and and praise Him, He is so good! It was good to read this today.
Thanks for the feedback Caitlyn. The Lord is good and it’s super encouraging to hear your experience of that.
Thanks Ben for this..it is something I am living right now and what you are saying is so true. I am practicing “dwelling in God’s presence ” and have come to see this is the endpoint of my faith. As Brother Lawrence says everything else is but a means to this point.. Now i am learing to stay here i feel like I am properly resting for the first time..and all I can do in this place is thank him 😇
Thanks for sharing, and testifying to what the Lord has done in your life. Praise the Lord for His gift of rest!