Restful Results.
Who likes results?? As business owners it’s pretty safe to guess you’re all saying YES! From a young age I’ve always been quite competitive, I found a natural talent with long distance running and I found the strong head discipline to push through barriers and keep going even when my body was yelling “give up”. I remember my most favourite teacher in primary school, Mr Drennan was his name. He’s one of those teachers you think back on with fond memories and know they made a significant impact in your life. Mr D, as we called him, was my athletics coach and he knew how to push our training squad. It was not too rare to see someone throwing up on the side of the road as he pushed us through barriers, we thought were impossible. I remember complaining at him once in the middle of a run “I can’t” and with much love he shouted “there’s no such thing as can’t” And he was right, I pushed through and I finished the race before me.
This attitude of never giving up has served me well over the years. It’s been a resolve that’s paid dividends in challenging and confronting moments in business, our family, our marriage, my health. Everything.
However, in 2019 I heard the Lord clearly say to me “The flesh pushes. But the Spirit leads. It has been a statement that has been an anchor for my soul and mind ever since. Over the last few years I have explored this further with Him, and I have found a new treasure, a new way, a higher way to live my life. It’s the FAITH REST life that the passion translation bible refers to in Hebrews 4.
I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to show you moments during your day where you are pushing. It’s the type of pushing that has a striving element to it. It’s the pushing that feels stressful, wears us out and steals our joy. But on the other hand, it can also feel exciting like a natural high, with the thrill of the chase. It’s our flesh that pushes, and scripture tells us in Romans 8:6 that to be flesh and carnal minded is death, whereas to be spirit minded is life and peace. In the moments where the push, or the hustle is exhilarating, too often you can find yourself coming down from the ‘high’ and feeling flat or feeling random bouts of anxiety.
The Spirits leads to life, and the Spirit leads us towards this grace filled, awe and wonder life. When we follow the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit, there is a flow to it. There’s a grace and ease about it, and it feels unforced. I’m sure you’re familiar with that feeling. It’s when we are operating in our “grace lane”. Sometimes we mistake this for just how we naturally roll, however pay attention to it, this is when we are operating in our ‘super’natural state. It’s those moments of John 15 where we are abiding in him and him in us. It’s from this abiding life, where we are entwined with Jesus as the vine and we His branches, that we bear fruit. Bear results. There’s not a pushing and a striving, it’s a natural by product of life IN Him.
When we learn to live this higher, Kingdom way, we learn the art of RESTFUL RESULTS. It’s a life which is flourishing with fruit and results, but not at the detriment of our health, sanity and JOY. We don’t have to operate the way the world does which says “if it’s meant to be, it’s up to me” We are not alone, we don’t have to do what God has called us to do in our own strength. If God has called you, he will equip you and resource you. Lean into His provision and His life, be led by the Spirit into your best life. Sometimes it might feel counter-productive, it might feel unnatural and risky. But I promise you, God’s ways are always right. His ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Ultimately the Spirit led life brings honour and glory to God, not to us and our achievements. And this is our safe hiding place. We were not born to be worshipped or glorified, we were born to worship and glorify Him.
This fruit, these results, which come from intimacy with Jesus are the gold, silver and precious stones that God rewards, not the wood, hay and straw (1 Corinthians 3:12)
Praying for a super abundance of fruit and results in your life and business as you REST IN Him. And in the rest, that you are filled to overflowing with His JOY.
