So when facing a problem or attack, God’s strategy is not always to start rebuking the devil. Sometimes it’s not even His will to start praying about the immediate problem. Often the best thing to do is worship until we get a fresh vision of God for that situation. With that vision our hearts can rest, trusting all is well and He will bring us through. Then our faith is renewed, that “shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (Eph 6:16).
Naturally there are times when the only way to unburden our hearts is to petition God about the immediate problem. But the primary goal is always the same: enter His rest. From that place we overcome discouragement, walk in victory, receive answers to prayers, and obtain courage to do whatever God requires (Phil 4:13). As Bill Johnson said, “You have authority over any storm you can sleep in” (See Matt 8:23-27).
This is why the Bible tells us to “make every effort to enter that rest” (Heb 4:11). God’s rest is so valuable that, if our hearts are not at peace, we must apply diligent energy in prayer to regain His rest. Remember what the old hymn says:
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit; O what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
No wonder God commanded Israel to keep the Sabbath. It was a symbol of intimacy with Jesus that gives us rest in the middle of raging storms. Then He is glorified through us as the source of real life and peace. So let’s honor the Sabbath. Let’s enter His rest. Let’s come to Jesus whenever our hearts slip even slightly out of peace for the sake of knowing Him better, and advancing His Kingdom in others.