2 Chronicles 20:30 NIV
“And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.”
INSIGHT
-This chapter is probably the most referenced and loved chapter in this book. It explains how the Lord grants victory to those who trust in Him. King Jehosphaphat was facing the greatest external threat of his reign, great multitudes from the Moabites, Ammonites and Syria attempted to crush Judah and its inhabitants. King Jehoshaphat humbled himself before the Lord and the result was great victory and rest for his kingdom. The promise of the Lord through the prophet Jahaziel is a comfort to believers of this age who face hopeless situations. He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). This is great comfort even as we submit our troubles and distress to the Lord for He will surely give us peace and rest in everything.
PRAYER
Almighty Father in the mighty Name of Jesus, we come before Your throne of grace this day to exalt Your Name and praise You. You are Great and greatly to be praised. We are grateful for all You have done for us and for Your unending mercies and kindness. Father we commit our lives and all our worries and troubles to You. We pray that You shall give us rest in all our lives and all our matters. May You take over all our battles for the battle belongs to You. May You grant us peace from our enemies and all who pursue us just as You did for Jehoshaphat. May You fight for us and our nation and grant us peace economically, politically, spiritually, financially, socially and in spheres. May You keep us in perfect peace for our minds are focused on You. We trust in You Lord for we know that You are able. We pray this in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Further Reading: Isaiah 26:3
Psalms 127:1-2 NKJV
“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.”
INSIGHT
–We acknowledge the Sovereignity of the Lord as our Master Builder. Those who plan and build without Him do it in vain. They wake up early and stay up late only to waste their time, energy and resources. Some cannot even sleep at night due to anxiety from danger, adversity and lack, but it is the Lord helps us to produce fruit and find sleep for He loves us. Genesis 26:12-14 gives us an account of Isaac who sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold for the Lord blessed him. He prospered, continued to prosper until he became very prosperous. May the Lord help us to always rely on Him, and may He grant us rest in our lives, labour, families, nation and from every side and in everything for He loves us. Let us always thank the Lord for giving us a great nation with diverse resources in minerals, wildlife, technological advancement and great people for He loves us and cares for us.
PRAYER
Lord You are our Shepherd there is nothing we shall want. You makes us to lie down in green pastures. You lead us beside the still waters. You restore our souls. You lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for You are with us, Your rod and Your staff, they comfort us. You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. You anoint our head with oil, our cups overflows. May You give us rest Oh Lord in our lives, families, businesses, jobs and nation. May You deliver us from political unrest and economic turmoil. May You save us from our trouble and provide for our every need and expand our territories. May You bless the work of our hands that we may never labour in vain. May You make us extreemly fruitful during the day and in the night, in all aspects of our lives like You did for Your servant Isaac. Lord You are our Shepherd and Shield, we put all our hope and trust in You. May You forgive us every sin, trespass and iniquity, where we have built and gone ahead of You, may You cleanse us with Your precious blood for we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory Lord. We thank You Lord for loving us with Your everlasting love. We thank You everything that You done unto us and for giving us a beautiful and prosperous nation. Surely Your goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in Your house Lord forever and ever. Amen
Further Reading: Isaiah 14:3-4, Psalms 23:1-6
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
INSIGHT
–Heavy-laden in Greek is phortizo which means to place a burden upon or to load as when loading a luggage upon the back of an ox. It therefore gives the impression of oppression by placing heavy burdens upon someone by way of various challenging circumstances. Jesus calls us saying “come to Me” and He promises to substitute our burdens for His that lead us to a place of rest. Jesus invites us to learn from Him and experience His love and compassionate heart for He has overcome the world.
PRAYER
Almighty Father how holy is Your name above all the universe. You are our God and we have no other, and none can be compared to You. We thank You and extol You dear Lord Jesus for all You have done for us and all You have given us. Thank You for Your loving kindness and mercies that are new every morning. Lord we thank You for we know You love us and have good plans for us, plans to prosper us and not bring us any harm but rather to give us hope and a future. Dear Lord, may go ahead of us, level every mountain and break every bars of iron and steel gates. May You release a double portion and open multiple doors for and give us hidden treasures in secret places that we may know that You are our God and Savior. You are our good God, we trust in You. Dear Lord may You forgive us all our sins that has made us red as crimson and make us whiter than snow by Your precious blood Lord Jesus. We surrender all unto You and commit all unto Your hands. We pray this in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Further Reading: Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 45:1-5
Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
INSIGHT
–What a paradox when we are called to rejoice in the Lord always. One’s life challenges may seem daunting, stemming from delay in answers to prayer, sickness, anxieties, drought, barrenness, personal issues, family barriers, ministerial pitfalls, economic challenges, political turmoil etc. God reminds us to pray without ceasing and make our requests known to Him for nothing to too hard for Him. Once we do this, we are then able to rejoice in the Lord through all circumstances even as God grants us His peace that is unfathomable. Therefore when we are weak, then we remain strong because of the strength and victory that our Lord and God has given us.
PRAYER
How lovely is Your dwelling place our Lord Almighty. Our souls yearn even faints, for You Lord and Your courts. Our heart and flesh cry out for our living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest where she may have her young, a place near Your altar, Lord Almighty, our King and God, we find rest in You. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house and praise You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You and whose hearts are set on You. May You fight for us every battle in our lives, families, churches, ministries and nation, for the battle belongs to You. May You protect us and deliver us as You have sworn by Yourself, we will forever boast in You. Lord You have promised to grant us Your peace, not like the world gives but Your peace that surpasses all human understanding to guide our hearts and minds in You Christ Jesus. Our souls wait even faint for Your presence, may You grant us rest as a nation during these times of political uncertainty. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May You take charge of this nation and reign over it for this country and all people belongs to You. So dear Lord Jesus we rest in You and cast all our cares and anxieties unto You for You care for us. May Your protection, righteousness, love and peace; reign in our nation, among us, among all young people and leaders forever. May You bless all street children and deliver them from all their troubles. May You enable us to rejoice in You always dear Holy Spirit. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further Reading: Psalms 84:1-5, John 14:27
Hebrews 4:9-11 NKJV
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”
INSIGHT
-On the seventh day, the Lord had ended the work which He had done and rested. He blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (Genesis 2:2-3). He instituted a day for rest which He also called the Sabbath day and instructs us to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11). Rest is available for God’s people but God does not force it upon us. It must not be taken as optional it is imperative to note that we must enter rest through diligent faith that requires us to trust in, rely upon, and cling to Jesus and His work for us. Like an athlete who runs towards a goal, we must run the race with obedience to Christ and we shall constantly remain at rest in Him until He returns.
SUMMARY
Rest in Greek is anapauo means to refresh, to cease from labor, keep quiet, of calm or patient expectation. When he was faced by fierce opposition in his kingdom, the Lord fought for king Jehoshaphat and granted him peace and rest on every side (2 Chronicles 20:30). Jesus told his disciples a parable of a widow who sort for justice from an unjust judge who did not fear God nor cared about the people. She persisted in her quest for justice against her adversary and she was granted justice. Jesus demonstrated the power of praying and not giving up leading to rest (Luke 18:1-5). The value of submitting to God is illustrated by Psalms 127:1-2, where some people attempt to build a house but do it in vain, others try to guard a city but do not succeed, many others wake up early and sit up late but still eat the bread of sorrow, but it God Who gives His beloved sleep and rest. Jesus calls us to enter rest saying, “come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus assures us rest even as we submit to Him and sort for His help having faith that nothing is too difficult for Him. Once we surrender all to God and continually seek His face, we are able to rejoice in Him always for He gives us His peace that surpasses all understanding to guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).
PRAYER
All nations whom You have made shall worship You O Lord our God. We glorify Your name for You are great, and do wondrous works. You alone are God. May You teach us Your ways O Lord and we will walk in Your truth. May You unite our heart to fear Your name and we will praise You always, O Lord our God with all our hearts. We will glorify Your name forevermore, for great is Your mercy toward us and You have delivered our souls from the depths of Sheol. Dear Lord Jesus You uphold us in faith that we may enter rest and abide in You so that we may obtain an imperishable crown set before us before the foundations of the world. Amen
Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25