Erika Mathews's Blog, page 9
March 11, 2020
Nuach ~ I Will Give Thee Rest
Nuach is rest that is given from God; it is a verb of rest. Gesenius’ Hebrew Lexicon gives a fuller picture of the definition for nuach: “to rest…to set oneself down, to settle down in any place for rest. The primary idea is to breathe, draw breath.”
“Sitting down and drawing breath” signifies completion, full trust and surrender, and contentment.
Settling down is continual; it is not simply that we only pitch a tent and perhaps later on move our tent somewhere else. We are settled in heavenly places with and in Him. Nothing can move us.
Today, settle yourself down in Christ your dwelling place and breathe in His Spirit. That’s rest.
#releaseday countdown: 10! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: Moses and the Dwelling Place
March 10, 2020
Resting Life Giveaway!
In celebration of the #RestingLifeBook launch on March 20, we’re hosting a giveaway!
PRIZE PACK
✨ Signed paperback of Resting Life (an official copy, not the proof copy pictured 
Navah ~ Rest As At Home
True beauty is rest. In fact, the very concept of being “becoming,” “decorous,” or “suitable” comes from the concept of rest. Specifically, the Hebrew word navah (used twice in Scripture and translated home or habitation) means “to rest (as at home)” and has an implied idea of “beauty.”
The connection of rest and beauty is the concept of “sitting well on any one.” Thus, being beautiful is simply that things “rest well” upon us. God’s design is that all of creation, all of His laws and principles, and all of the kingdom of God “rest well” upon His people. As we “rest well” within that kingdom – Him, our everlasting and secure home – we are made eternally beautiful through Father’s rest upon our lives.
#releaseday countdown: 11! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: Elijah’s depression and rest
March 9, 2020
Nahal ~ Gently Rest His People
The word “nahal” means “properly to run with a sparkle, that is, flow; hence (transitively) to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain.” Contextually, it is to give rest, lead with care, cause to rest, bring to a station or place of rest, guide, refresh; to lead to a watering-place or station and cause to rest there; to lead or bring to a station or goal; to give rest to.
Examining the uses of this word in Scripture gives a more complete picture regarding how the Spirit leads us into His rest:
This is the way in which Jacob led his family and flocks “softly” so as not to overdrive them (Genesis 33:14).
This is the way in which Joseph fed the world, nourishing and satisfying them during the seven-year famine (Genesis 47:17).
This is the way in which God guides His people in His strength to His holy habitation (Exodus 15:13).
This is the way in which, at the word of the LORD, the armies of Israel clothed their captives, fed them, anointed them, shod them, and carried them back to their own city (II Chronicles 22:32).
This is the way in which God leads and guides us in great covenant love for His name’s sake (Psalm 31:3).
from Resting Life: Jesus’ Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer, p. 25. Preorder here!
#releaseday countdown: 12! In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: Jacob and the Pillow Position
March 6, 2020
Margoa ~ A Resting Place for Your Soul
Rest and restlessness can both indicate direction.
Walking in God’s ways brings rest. If we choose to go the other direction and say, “We will not walk therein,” we do not find rest.
By this standard, we can know whether we are where God wants us to be. Since God promises that we will find rest as we walk in the “good way,” everything in life can be evaluated by that criterion: is this rest? If so, it is the “good way.” If we find ourselves in a situation where we say, “This is not our rest,” we can use that as a signal to us that we are not in the Lord’s ways. Once we realize that this is not our rest, we can return to our rest in Him.
The rest we find for our souls is Christ Himself…He is our resting place. In the work and routine of your life today, dwell within Him.
~ from page 145 of Resting Life
#releaseday countdown: 15! Don’t forget to preorder the book! Preorder here. In @erikamathewsauthor’s stories today: the gospel of rest
March 5, 2020
Menuchah ~ Waters of Rest
Yahweh Shalom stretches me out, embedding me and causing me to recline in repose in new, tender grass in His pleasant home.His flowing, sparkling love guides, protects, and sustains me in the waters of peaceful repose as I abide in Him.
“Green pastures” speak of a place of quiet rest, repose, pleasure, and comfort; still waters are “waters of quietness.” The peace to which He leads us is a joining peace in Himself. As He continually draws us nearer to Himself in His great love and embrace, He entices us to rest in Him.
Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, is holding us in His everlasting arms, bringing us ever nearer and deeper into God’s heart! Words cannot describe the quiet rest found as we are held closely to God’s heart. It is beyond expression, beyond description. The most ornate description would seem grossly absurd and exaggerated to one who has not experienced it; and to one who has experienced it, the most eloquent language would seem pathetically inept. Such rest in love defies all attempts as description – and yet it is so glorious, so intimate, so personal, so vividly real that it ought to be the theme of all description.
In His love, we can be perfectly confident, trusting, and excited in Him. There is nothing to fear, no basis for doubting, no foundation for fretting.
He leads me beside still waters. Does this resonate in your own heart and life? Is this what He is doing in, through, and for you? This is rest in His love.
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May I abide quietly and restfully, embedded in the quiet, peaceful love of God as He holds me more closely to Himself!
#releaseday countdown: 16! In stories today: why people confine soul-rest to the future and why that’s wrong
March 4, 2020
Manoach ~ Seeking Rest
“In the mindset of the culture, Ruth in her widowed condition was not at rest. She needed a husband to provide for her, rather than continuing to labor in the fields with the poor and strangers. This rest was a completion of that which was incomplete. ⠀
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“At first, Naomi thought that this would happen in Moab: “The LORD grant you that ye may find rest…” Once Ruth accompanied Naomi to Israel, however, a different sort of rest comes into the picture: Ruth “… dwelt with her mother in law” (Ruth 2:23). Even though this was not the type of rest that Naomi initially thought Ruth should pursue, that was God’s plan for Ruth at this time of her life: completion within Him and in her service and loyalty to her mother-in-law. When Ruth and Boaz settled down in their new life together, that also was completion and rest. This restful completion is the state of a person as she ought to be.” ⠀
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~ Page 162 of Resting Life: Jesus’ Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer. Preorder here today!
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#releaseday countdown: 17! In @erikamathewsauthor‘s stories today: why spiritual rest isn’t laziness⠀
March 3, 2020
Yanach ~ Resting in the Garden
In the beginning, God created a home for mankind and put him there. In Hebrew, the word translated “put” denotes “rest.”
In your life, God has created a home for you and put you there. Are you resting where He has placed you?
It’s easy to wonder how to “dress and keep” our home while still remaining at rest. That’s a question I wrestled with in writing chapters 18-21 of Resting Life, and it’s something God revealed gradually and is still revealing to me. Even though our brains have a difficult time wrapping around it, there is no disconnect between rest and God-given responsibilities. Through abiding in oneness in Him and receiving His rest, the work is perfectly accomplished in His ways.
Practically, how does this work? He knows. Seek Him. Receive Him. Abide in the Word . . . and you’ll find logic-defying yet kingdom-expected results in your life.
Preorder Resting Life book: Preorder here. – #releaseday countdown: 18! In @erikamathewsauthor‘s Rest Study highlights: recognizing the rest of Father, Son, and Spirit
March 2, 2020
Dobe ~ So Shall Thy Rest Be
Welcome to our Biblical word study of rest countdown to launch day! Each day, we’ll look at a different Biblical word for rest. “As your days, so shall your strength be.” The Hebrew word translated “strength” is unusual, used only here in Scripture. דׁבֶא (dobe) is listed as being uncertain in meaning and these possibilities are listed: “restful, quiet, strength.”
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We might not ever think of confusing the words “rest” and “strength” – they seem opposites. Yet our strength is in His rest. As we rest in His rest, we walk in His strength. Strength is resting in Him. “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Isaiah 30:15).
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“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).
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This passage does not say, “…that the power of Christ may march mightily and gloriously through my life;” rather, it specifies that “the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
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Rest in the assurance that as our days, so shall our rest be! There is never a day when He changes, or lessens His love for us, or fails in His promise. We cannot outlive the love of God!
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Resting Life: Jesus’ Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer Release day countdown: 19! Preorder here.
Resting Life Launch Kick-Off!
We are deep in the release for Resting Life: Jesus’ Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer, and so many exciting and encouraging launch events are happening! Thank you so much for your prayers and support for us! Only 18 days until this book hits the shelves!
If you’d like to follow along on the countdown to release or join in the fun, there are several ways to do that:
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Pray. Most importantly, talk to God about the book launch. Pray that He will bring the book to those who need it. Pray for His blessing on the release and His kingdom to go forth and prosper.
Spread the word. If you’d like to share online about the book but don’t have the time to put together a social media post or blog post or email to send to your friends, we’ve got you covered! Let us know here and we’ll send you some premade post options (complete with links and images!) ahead of release day. All you have to do is copy, paste, and post! This is a need we have that we’d be delighted if you could fill!
Join the Resting Life Photo Challenge on Instagram. Simply use the day’s prompt to make a post directly or indirectly related to that prompt – your choice! Each post will be a giveaway entry to win a copy of the book and a related prize pack.
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Join the Rest Contest. Post a unique or creative photo that includes the word “rest” somewhere and use the hashtag #RestContest. There will be awesome restful prizes!
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Follow along with the Resting Life Daily Word Study. Each weekday will focus on a different Hebrew or Greek word meaning “rest.”
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Watch the Chapter Study videos. Each weekday until release day, Erika will post 2-5 minutes of video teaching on key concepts in the chapters of the Resting Life book. Follow along on Stories on Instagram or Facebook.
And don’t forget you can preorder the book here.
We hope you have a blessed and restful March! Keep looking unto Jesus!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Can your busy, stressful reality truly transform into the abundant, restful reality of the kingdom of God? The Bible says yes. Through rest in Christ, your life can be fulfilled, productive, peaceful, and free to give and receive love.
But just what is Biblical rest, and how can it seamlessly fuse with your modern life?
In Resting Life: Jesus’ Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer, Bible teacher Erika Mathews addresses this question. Discover the unification of rest with practical daily life, relationships with others, spiritual warfare, ministry, witnessing, prayer, meditation, fruitfulness, and personal abiding. Through understanding and embracing God’s rest, you too will be uplifted, challenged, encouraged, and freed to live life as He intended—within Him.
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Preorder today, and the book will show up automatically on your Kindle or Kindle app on March 20!
Ebook preorder
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Did you know you can preorder the paperback too?
Signed paperback preorder
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