Yesterday, we looked at the principle of rest, and how everything necessary for rest has been given to us by God. It simply takes our recognition of the fact that we need it!

Remember Mark 6:31:

31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

God wants you to rest. One of my favorite passages related to this principle is Psalms 23. This is the mental attitude of someone in the middle of that rest. These are the principles that God will bring to your mind when you rest in Him.

Psalms 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

We’ve looked before at the principle of sheep, and how they are totally helpless and dependent on the shepherd. What better way to rest is there? We have a total dependence on our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

And He lives to take care of us:

Hebrews 7:25

25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

The Basic English Translation of this verse says "The Lord takes care of me as His sheep; I cannot be without any good thing.”

Talk about something that will give you rest! We are helpless sheep, but because we have a perfect shepherd, we CANNOT lack for any good thing!

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

The strange thing about sheep is that it's almost impossible for them to lie down and rest unless certain conditions are present; there must be a definite sense of security and safety and freedom from fear, tension, aggravations and hunger. Therefore, God provides everything that His sheep need to give them rest.

3 He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name's sake.

Not only does our Shepherd pay the price for our sins, but He refreshes or restores our soul from the results of them! Everything we need to relax our thinking is provided by Him.

He leads and guides us down the path of true righteousness. One interesting thing about a path is that it is already there! We don’t have to blaze a trail! The perfect path of our Christian life has already been laid out for us.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

We could spend weeks talking about the death-shadowed valley! David says that even in the face of physical death, He has no fear. If you are not afraid of death, how can you be afraid of anything in life?

The rod and staff refer to both discipline, which God uses to put us back on the path, and the staff of guidance. We should be comforted, knowing that God is doing everything He has to do to keep us on that path of righteousness!

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

We’re invited to a banquet, and Jesus Christ is the host! He has provided overflowing blessings for us, in this life, in our death-shadowed valley, and in our life in heaven for eternity!

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

You don’t have to look for the goodness and grace of God! It will PURSUE you!

Go back and read Psalm 23:1. Now take this passage, and realize that the Lord is YOUR shepherd! What a great passage to make us understand the rest that God wants us to have. Now go away by yourselves to a quiet place and rest!