Thank you, thank you for sharing your thoughts and hearts the last few days as we reflected on all we learned as a community during our advent study. What a blessing it has been to read your words!
As we prepare to begin A Fresh Start, our first reading plan of the New Year, let’s turn our heart toward the Lord and rest in His presence and truth.
Today, let’s read Psalm 127:1-2, two little verses with so much to say.
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:1-2, ESV
I don’t know about you today, Sisters, but I am building frantically. I am laboring hard. I am staying up late and getting up early and I am oh so anxious. I need this truth today. I need this rest that only our God of grace can give. And I am so thankful He gives it!
Father, build our house. Father, watch over our city. Father, give us sweet sleep, true rest and surpassing peace as we seek you, find you, and trust in you alone. Amen.
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Sisters, we are so excited to start our next reading plan with you!
A Fresh Start begins on Monday, January 6. Look for the introductory post on Sunday, January 5.
Meanwhile, join us back here tomorrow as we meditate on more words from the Psalms. May God richly bless you with rest and peace today.
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43 thoughts on "rest | psalm 127:1-2"
I wasn't sure what the Lord wanted to teach me today. So often I feel like my reading is so random. But when I saw you had devotions on rest I knew the Spirit was leading me here. These two little verses have already said so much. I know I'm not up to date on your writings but THANK YOU!
Thanks sisters for sharing. The key words I have picked out from Today’s study – in the midst of my planning n doing to ensure I achieve my goals in this new year, if God is not the architect of the plan, then I am labouring in vain. Help me Lord not to labour in vain. Thanks SRT, ure a big blessing to my life!
I'm a little unclear on how to apply this lesson in my life. I struggle with anxiety and stress just like everyone else; it's not uncommon for me to have dreams involving work projects. But I certainly could never be accused of not physically resting. My family has joked that I must have sleeping sickness for my entire life. Maybe for me this lesson applies to my emotional rest? I could certainly be accused of being a chronic worry wart. I worry about the aspects of my finances, relationships, and future that are well beyond my control, when instead I should be trusting in God's plan. I need to pray on this one.
I have been challenged through God's Word and my quiet time to learn to "Be Still". It is easier said than done. I keep singing "Be Still" by The Fray.
Oh my! I've been out all day, running around and wasn't sure if I would "get enough time" to read up on SRT tonight (smh, convicted! lol), but WOW am I glad I did! Those 2 verses are just what I needed! That is my goal for this year, to REST. To REST in CHRIST and stop relying on myself. Everything without him is done in vain. I was completely convicted when I heard my new favorite song, "Restless" by Audrey Assad. I will post the lyrics below.
"Restless" by Audrey Assad
You dwell in the songs that we are singing,
Rising to the Heavens, rising to Your heart, Your heart.
Our praises filling up the spaces
In between our frailty and everything You are
You are the keeper of my heart
And I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
Oh God, I wanna rest in You
Oh, speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me, whisper in the dark, the dark.
'Cause I know You're more than my salvation
Without you I am hopeless, tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart
You are the keeper of my heart
And I'm restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You
I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh
I wanna rest in You
Still my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cry
Still my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cry
And I am restless, I'm restless
'Til I rest in You, let me rest in You
And I am restless, so restless
'Til I rest in You, 'til I rest in You, Oh God
Let me rest in You.
I definitely needed these verses today. For all that I feel ready in my heart and mind to take on this year, I know that I need the Lord as my carpenter. As much I as am ready to take on new opportunities, chances, and risks, I know I need the Lord to build the house He wants me to live in. I need to live gently as I pursue a new job and new opportunities to build community in my personal life. I need to remember that all will unfold for me as He wants it to, as long as I continue to give my plans and my desires to Him. There is no need for stress or anxiety. I thirst for a new life with Him as my compass but I don't have to work myself into the ground to make it happen. I can start where I am and allow our Lord to build my new house.
Beautifully put. And Amen to that! God be with you, Lauren C. X
After reading these verses, I ask myself the question, "Lord, what am I building, watching over, and toiling after that you are not wanting me to build, watch over, or toil after?" I pray that He'd show all of us what is unnecessary baggage and toil today and the days to come. I pray that as He works with us to let go of unnecessary things, He'd help us to rest and dwell in his peaceful safety. Watch over all of us today, Lord; speak, and have your servants listen.
Love you all. Blessings to all of you. x
I really like your application! There are many things that I am building, watching over, and toiling after. The Lord wants to build my home the way He wants it to be. He wants me to allow Him to watch over my children, and He wants me to rest in Him. Psalm 23. So blessed with your insight, AnnaLee :)
My prayer for this new year:
“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.”
-A.W. Tozer
This is beautiful, Laney. I'm praying this as well.
Beautiful. Amen.
Amen. This will be my prayer also.
WOW!!! I can't help but say this all the time!! God uses SRT all the time to bring what I need when I need it!!! Talk about anxiety, I am due to have my baby within weeks, and my anxiety has been up!! The financial aspect of bringing in a new baby, we are losing another income for awhile, so that I am able to take care of the baby!! I must say last night, I almost broke night. I couldn't sleep or find any rest. Right now, I need physical rest, but I really need spiritual rest!! Thats why I cant wait until the next study!!! My SRT friends, please pray for me!!!
Praying for you, Jari! May the love and peace of God that transcends all understanding rest on you and around you today! Give it all to Him; He's been faithful, and He will always be faithful in giving you whatever you need.
I am entering into 21 days of prayer and fasting (Daniel Fast) starting this weekend and looking forward to what God has for me. He has previously used these times to teach me, bless me and fill me, so I know He will do so again. Each time is different but always results in such a wonderful refreshing of my soul. I have been praying and believing God for restoration and healing of my marriage and although I know He is faithful and working, at times, well I just feel weary, tired and my prayer and communication with Him begin to suffer; I don't like when this happens! I surrender these days to You Lord and trust You to have Your way in my life and in the life of Jeff. Change our hearts oh God!
I'm praying that this season blesses you, Jane. May God work through you and for you in all of these situations! His grace is enough.
Oh man, today's post was written for me! I am almost constantly anxious, and I deploy next week so I am even more stressed out than usual. Today's devotional was a lovely reminder that I don't need to stress out and worry, God will take care of me. He is always watching out for me, and will always be there. Always.
Although I have physically rested over the past week due to vacation (which was wonderful), I have not allowed my mind to stop. So often I let my mind run my body which leads in to worry and exhaustion. I love the part of the verse that says "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." Unless God is the sole focus of my thoughts, its all in vain. The worrying, the planning, the stress . . . those are all in vain because they are not of the Lord . . . ughhh so convicting. I need to allow myself to rest in Him . . . to trust Him . . . to rely on Him . . . to depend on Him . . . which is always much easier said than done.
Me too, Amber! couldn't of said it better. I pray that the both of us would continually "turn [our] eyes unto the hills, and know where [our] help comes from" in every situation (Psalm 121:1). God is good.
fRest….the one thing that has alluded me for weeks. Emotional rest. Physical rest. Spiritual rest. Its all alluded me. My thoughts have been racing for months now, and I have begun to show the signs of fatigue. I know His plan is for me to rest IN HIM and in His Promises. So today, I pray, that I find the hem of His Robe, wrap it around myself, and rest in His Presence. Intentional Rest…..
Such a good reminder! Last year my theme word was intentional and it became all about getting done as much as I could. This year I'm focusing on the word "invest", going deeper with relationships, self-care and things that really matter. Thank you for the reminder that God has to be at the forefront of all of that. (My blog post about it is here: http://www.relishments.com/blog/2014/01/investing…
Happy new year all!
"… for he gives to his beloved sleep." Amen!
And welcome, Essiejean!
Joining you ladies for the first time this morning, and so excited to already be gleaning some truth from the reading. This is perfect for the new year. I've been making all these plans for "self-improvement," but I'm realizing that this is me "building the house" and "laboring in vain." I must let Him be my architect. All I must do is bring my desires before Him, and He will build the house best suited to me and my needs – even the ones I have no idea I need yet!
I struggle from the same situation of "self-improvement." We've been misinformed by our society with all the self-help books and self improvement plans. The only self-help book we need is the Bible. I've learned that when I rest in Christ, EVERYTHING including myself improves. Praying for you! Rest in Him :-)
I must let him be my architect. I like that.
Wow. That was written just for me! I'm off to commit those verses to memory!
I came across this site by accident as I was searching the web and found you. We know nothing is by accident though. I'm looking forward to the year ahead uncovering truth with you and other believers. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him!
I got up this morning after a completely restless night to do today's reading. I have so many challenges daily, no different really than anyone else. I am constantly praying that The Lord would give me strength, when today I thought that perhaps I should really be praying for blessed, peaceful sleep. Sleep restores my strength, give me a fresh hopeful perspective, and thankfulness for another day. Now that's strength! Thank you Lord.
A fresh start – for me, to trust in God, to wait upon him, to lean on him and not my own understanding. Too many worries for me to handle by myself. A few big decisions to be made. I can't do anything without him.
Praying you, we, will hear His voice clearly and trust in Him completely!
Oh how I need sleep!! I am guilty of this staying up late and getting up early. I feel like there are not enough hours in the day and the Lord surely is not pleased with me. This scripture convicts me! He wants to give me rest and I am refusing to accept it. Lord Jesus help me to take what you want me to have and relax and be restored physically and spiritually in Your sweet rest! Rest in my mind, spirit and body….in Your holy Name! Amen!
So many good things about a New Year and a Fresh Start. I have posted about the Negativity Fast I have started since the new year began (it's not easy ladies! Yikes!) and if anyone wants to join me I would love to have partners!! I am also blogging all month on the Daniel Fast if anyone needs help in that area.
Looking forward to the Fresh Start series!
Peace!
What is the Negativity Fast? Sounds like something I should be doing!
Hi Tricia,
The Negativity Fast is something my husband came up with a few years ago while we were pastoring. He called for the church to stop saying anything negative, to quit criticizing and critiquing, finding fault with every little thing, about anyone for two solid weeks. He was dead serious about it. It had become such a problem in our church! Those that took it serious were broken and humble about it, weeping before the Lord and realizing the enemy's involvement in our day-to-day criticizing of one another! We were shocked to see how much we say and do is negative! But it wasn't a two week fast for most…it should be a lifestyle of course.
How easily we forget. So here I am again and I feel I need a refresher course! I say things without thinking, flippant remarks that seem silly to some and off-the-cuff, maybe funny little jokes to others but they are not pleasing to the Lord! Remember the old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say…don't say anything at all!" Whew! It's been tough this week! I would catch myself on just little things!!!
So this year I want to get rid of the NEGATIVE in my life. To stop criticizing and finding fault with others, period. Put an end to the judgmental one in me. For good. I know it is possible if I ask for HIS help.
You can read my post here if you like. http://www.hopeinthehealing.com/2013/12/31/negati…
Doin' it!
WOW THAT IS AWESOME! Just thinking about it convicts me. Thanks for sharing!
Would like to follow your blog. What is it? Thanks. You are such a blessing to me sister!
Hi Brandi, Here is my blog, http://www.hopeinthehealing.com/ you are most welcome there, friend! You are a blessing to ME! All of my sisters here are an encouragement to me!! Feel free to make yourself at home there and join right in! ♥
I actually just bought the new book "The Daniel Plan". I havent read it yet, but maybe I will pull it out today and see what it has to say. I will check out your blog…..see you there!
Slowly, but surely, I am learning to let go of the unnecessary baggage I have carried these long years…..I have carried them enough….ENOUGH, I have made them my companions, my fortress, my walls …my armour to keep people out….to keep me from being hurt anymore…. ENOUGH….NO MORE….
What I have discovered over these past weeks is that I am loved, so very much by a God who would come as a baby, live as one of us knowing his fate/ purpose at the end…….Greater love has no man than to give his life for another…….ME/US
So Today… with a fresh start in mind and ahead, I give my all to this Great and Mighty God, who gives rest, to those who will allow Him to build the house, who will protects our city if we allow Him, who will work alongside us, for he will provide for those he loves while they sleep……
Today…..with my hand on my heart, my eyes on God, my soul awake, and my mind ready to receive the much much needed rest and peace, and with you my sisters, to whom I will make myself accountable, I say IT IS FINIISHED!!!! I am letting go and letting GOD….And so it is..
"For He gives his beloved, sleep"
God bless your days' richly, SRT sister's.xxx
Standing with you sister! Putting all of myself at the foot of the throne. Amen and amen!
Amen, Tina!
I have needed peace these past few weeks. Letting go and letting God has most obviously been my mantra and my saving grace. Peace is what I was looking for and peace is what I received. Thank you Lord and thank you sisters for bringing us your kind, gentle, joyous, truthful words and thoughts from the breath of the Holy Spirit!