Rest for Your Souls
By standing still, looking to God's guidance, and following the good way, we can find rest for our souls and peace in a world of uncertainty.
Eli Brayley preaches on the importance of seeking God's guidance in decision-making, emphasizing the need to stand still, look to the ancient paths, ask for the good way, and walk in it to find rest for our souls. In a world filled with unrest and worry, Christians are called to trust in the Lord's leading and not rush into decisions hastily. By following the path that the Lord has walked and seeking His wisdom, we can experience the rest that comes from allowing God to govern our steps.
Text
"This is what the Lord says:
'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" - Jeremiah 6:16
Christians must make many decisions... we make them on a daily basis. Some decisions we must make are far more important than others, and others make seemingly little difference.
Yet so often we are walking in this world full of unrest and worry, with a fair load of anxiety and troubles because of the many choices we face and the fear of making the wrong one. The people of the world are not any different. Stress reliever sales are at an all time high. Must Christians suffer the same disarray? No, we have Christ!
The Lord tells us the way to choose. He says "Stand at the crossroads..." Our orders are to stand... do not move, do not choose, do not hastily run in the way that first seems right, but first stand still. Standing still is a common theme throughout Scripture, however it does not seem to be a common theme among believers. In a world of fast paced, touch and go living, it is easy to fall victim to it's pattern. We must learn to be patient and stand still before we rush into making a decision. Our decisions will effect our future and consequently the future of others as well. By standing still we can look.
What are we looking for? Psalm 123 - "Unto Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens." We look to the Lord, we look to His Word... we look to the path that the Lord has already walked in, that we to may walk that way. This is what the ancient paths are: the paths in which the Lord has walked. "...Ask where the good way is..." The good Shepherd, of ours souls, He walks before us and we follow. He leads us by still waters, to green pastures. He knows the good way for us to walk, and we follow Him. "And you will find rest for your souls."
Are you facing a decisions? Stand still, look to the ancient paths, ask for the good way and walk in it. If we learn to not move until we have found the path of God; is this not rest? The rest which allows God to govern our steps and not do it ourselves. What glorious rest!
Stand, look, ask.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Problem of Unrest and Worry
- A. Christians face many decisions daily
- B. Fear of making the wrong choice leads to anxiety and troubles
- 'II. The Solution: Standing Still and Looking to God'
- A. Stand at the crossroads and look to the ancient paths
- B. Ask for the good way and follow the Lord's guidance
- 'III. The Result: Rest for Your Souls'
- A. By following God's path, we find rest and peace
Key Quotes
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” — Eli Brayley
“Unto Thee I lift up my eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens.” — Eli Brayley
“The Lord tells us the way to choose. He says 'Stand at the crossroads...' Our orders are to stand... do not move, do not choose, do not hastily run in the way that first seems right, but first stand still.” — Eli Brayley
Application Points
- When facing a decision, take time to stand still and reflect on the choice before acting.
- Look to God's guidance and Word for direction in your decisions.
- Follow the good way that God has laid out for you, and you will find rest for your souls.