Fruit from Rest

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31

Over the last while God has been reminding me of the truth that fruitfulness comes from a place of rest in God. Not from a place of busyness or striving. The last several months God has been teaching me that sometimes His priority is that I simply rest in Him. Resting physically as well as spiritually is important to Him. In truth often I find that I am anxious to know what's ahead and want to fill the need to be doing something. What are we doing next? What's the plan? What's the task? And there are times when God doesn't really seem as interested in talking about all that as I am in wanting to know it all. Maybe He knows that if I was to know everything ahead, it would prevent me from actually receiving the rest that will give me the strength I need to do what's ahead. 

The beautiful thing is that out of that place of rest and letting God fill me up, He gives me the strength and the ability to bear fruit. Fruit really only comes from abiding in Him (John 15).

I love the fact that God is so faithful to show me exactly what I need. Experiencing times when God forces me to slow down makes me realize that God actually cares about me.  He doesn't just want me as a servant that He orders around. He actually cares about taking care of me and giving me what I really need, even when I don't necessarily want it. He always knows best. He's personal and actually cares about me as a person and I love Him for it.