Godrest and Godspeed
“Godrest and Godspeed”.
I add this signature to almost every letter or email.
The order of the words are important. Godrest
“He that has entered into His rest has ceased from his own works, even as God did from His.”
As I travel around the globe and around the United States I get to meet people from many different denominational backgrounds. One thing I have noticed (and of course it is also evident in my own life), is that a lot of God’s people are just plain tired.
It’s not just because the world has gotten more demanding, bill collectors are louder in their cries to be paid, we need to learn restraint in our consumption, etc. etc.; those things may be true, but the weariness goes a whole lot deeper than that.
We have a “soul-weariness” because we have been trying to do the will and work of God in our own strength. As my friend Steve Fry says, we must learn to do Father’s work His way.
Watchman Nee, in his masterpiece “The Normal Christian Life” puts it this way: “Only Jesus Christ has ever lived the normal Christian life and only He can.” So let’s stop trying to live for God and let Him live His Life in us!
He is the One who makes us lie down in green pastures, He leads us beside the restful waters, He restores our soul (mind. will and emotions.)
That’s what I mean when I say Godrest.
From a place of rest then we can live with “Godspeed”-
In other words, what God commands, He gives grace for.
As the Psalmist David says: “Through my God I can run through a troop and leap over a wall. Through my God I will do valiantly, for it is He Who overcomes my enemy.”
Rather than ask God to bless what we are doing, we ask Him to show us what He is on His heart for His world and his people, and ask for grace to flow with His purposes! Seek first the Kingdom!
Godrest and Godspeed,
David Baroni
June 24th, 2007 at 4:02 am
Dear David,
Thank you for this entry. It is so true we need to let “HIS LIFE” flow through us - instead of trying to do it ourselves. It’s only our availabilty
to “HIS ABILITY” that make the difference. I know it is has been many moons ago, but my favorite song from your collection is “Mercy Refused.” You are are a BLEST MAN.