Jesus, I am resting, resting

Last night we had girls night. One of the girls on leadership's mom came and spoke to all of us girls. Our theme for girls night over the summer is Biblical Femininity and our roles as christian women. Laura's mom did such a nice job touching on so many different topics that us as women struggle with. One of these topics was contentment. She said if we look back in Genesis when Adam and Eve were in the garden, God had given the entire garden to them! Everything in it was for their use and for their benefit... except one tree. It is interesting that Satan used that one tree as a foothold for Eve. He fed her the lies that God has holding out on her and that she wasn't able to experience all that she could if she was able to eat from the tree. He planted a seed of discontentment in her heart. There was something she didn't have, so she needed to do something about it.

Discontentment is probably one of the biggest struggles for women. Are bodies aren't right, we aren't smart enough, pretty enough, talented enough. We are discontent with being single and lonely. We want to be pursued, we don't have the right job or enough money. It is never ending! She also talked about how fear and discontentment walk hand and hand. We have a fear of being lonely and not finding anyone, so we are discontent with being single. We fear what others think so we are discontent with the way the Lord made us.

Another issue Laura's mom talked about was 1 Peter 3:3-4 where it talks about women having a quiet and gentle spirit. I would always get discouraged at this verse because I am a pretty outgoing and sometimes loud person. This verse is talking about a spirit though, not personality. You can have a big personality but have a quiet and gentle spirit; and in the same way, we can have a quiet and gentle personality but not be at peace inside. It is believed that in that verse when Peter is referring to quiet and gentle spirit he is meaning a spirit that is not stirred up but anxiety and worry. This is personally convicting to me because there are many times where my spirit is not at rest; but full of concern and worry... wondering what is going to come next.

Lord teach me to have a true quiet and gentle spirit that is not stirred up by anxiety and worry, but rests in your peace that passes understanding.

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the Joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.

Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O how great Thy loving kindness.
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O how marvellous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace.