“Authentic Christianity is a supernatural walk with a living, dynamic, communicating God.” – Bill Hybels

So often we hear people say (if not us ourselves) that we are simply humans. “Of course this will happen, I’m only human” or “what can you expect from me, I’m only human”. Sound familiar? I have been wrestling with this idea/excuse for a long time. Something just doesn’t seem to sit right with me when I hear that “only human” phrase. Just like I struggle with the thought when I hear someone say  “my gesonde verstand se vir my….” (in Afrikaans) or “my healthy brain tells me…” (directly translated). I believe the only thing my healthy brain should be telling me is that I must listen to God and what HE tells me.

Anyway, back to the “I’m only human…” bit. The reason this bothers me is that IT LIMITS US AS CHILDREN OF A SUPERNATURAL GOD. What does the Bible say…

Acts 19:11-12 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”

John 14:11-13 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Mark. 16:17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.”

Obviously, there is so much more to say on this topic but what is important to consider is this: We are children of a King who, while on earth, did nothing in an ordinary way. He was extraordinary in everything He did or said. So if we are children of God, which we are, and we spend time with this Jesus, this King, then why do we settle for anything less than an extraordinary life? Especially if He said we will do the same things He did and GREATER? Oh wait, that’s right, we are “only human”? Oh no, my friend!! That is a lie. Use your “healthy brains” to surrender your human life and all decisions to Jesus because His Truth and Guidance is just way better than our limited wisdom. Spending time with Him as much as possible will allow your “only human” self to become extraordinary, destined for greatness! Soon the world will look at you and realize that you were only an ordinary person and it will astonish them as they take note that “this person had been with Jesus”. Now there’s a piece of biltong for you to chew on! 😉

Mark 6:31 “Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, ‘Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’.”

Rest. This is such a now, in-season word. In the past week I have read so many prophetic words from different people and they were all about rest: “Rest is a weapon, 2018 is a year of deeper intimacy with Jesus than ever before and the enemy is out to steal through causing you not to enter His rest, how to rest, scriptures on rest, etc.” You might have received some of these too. It is extremely important to rest. Spiritually enter His rest, yes, but also physical rest. This is a serious word, treat it as such. As you read, test yourself. Do you need rest? Listen to the Holy Spirit. Ps. 127:2 “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those he loves.”

Graham Cooke recently taught about rest and how important rest is in the Bible. Here are some facts from Graham’s teaching: After creation, God rested on the 7^th day. He requires us to rest on the 7^th day too. The Bible speaks of the Sabbath Rest in Lev. 25:4,5. He will bless your rest.
Eph. 2:6 states that we are raised up with Jesus and is seated together with Him in heavenly places and Graham pointed out – “SEATED”! Seated means resting, sitting, relaxed, not running! Graham made a very true statement: “Rest is the tangible expression of God’s Presence.” He was saying that its a choice we need to make to “partner with rest” and that “Rest is militant against the negative”. We need to “guard our inner territory and rest enables us to do it”. Graham hit the nail on the head!

And what if you need rest but you are not able to take some time off? Well, since last year God has been talking to me about “resting in the run”. One of my places to meet with Jesus is to go running. He runs with me and we talk about a lot of things. Things we wouldn’t have talked about if I was doing my usual quiet time in my room. Its like I experience Him in a different way while running. If you choose to make Him part of your everyday doings, He reveals Himself in different ways and He loves joining you in your activities. “Resting in the run” is about learning to rest while running. Sometimes you find yourself tired but the run/season is not over yet so you cannot yet sit back and relax. Those times you need to slow your pace and rest while you run. Jesus is our rest, He is our holiday. And He is able to give you rest supernaturally – physically as well as spiritually. I can testify of this from my own life. At the end of the day it all comes down to a choice though…are we going to complain about being exhausted or are we going to man up and start speaking life over the situation and ourselves. There are many scriptures to declare over yourself. Is. 40:30-31 “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”- (personally, I can testify that this verse has worked for me in the past more than once and as a result truly proved once again that the Word is ALIVE!)

Phil.4:13 “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me…” Matt.11:28-30 “Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Here are some more scriptures about rest. God takes rest seriously, maybe you should too.

Mark 2:27 “Then He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath’.”

Ex.33:14 “The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.’”

Heb. 4:9-11 “There remains then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”

When you find yourself tired and in need of rest, may you listen to Jesus when He says to you ‘Come with Me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest’.” You will not be sorry you did.