I am the Lord. I have called you to righteousness. I will take you by the hand and I will keep you…” Isaiah 42:6
Dear National and Local friends,
During some quiet time with Him this week, I opened my pocket ESV. I had not used that particular Bible for quite a while. After about 20 minutes of silence before the Lord, I opened it to where I had previously left the marker ribbon, months before, at Isaiah 42. This led to 80 minutes of reading, rereading, and journaling conversation with the Lord in Isaiah 41-45. Precious. Peaceful. Perspective.
Now, of course the chapters are the Lord doing three things:
1. Speaking to, and about, Israel.
2. Prophesying about Christ and His Kingdom.
3. Speaking intimately to we who are engrafted into all His promises to Israel through His Precious Blood.
After almost 2 hours with Him in quiet, the first two thirds of Is 42:6 bubbled up to the top—wouldn’t let me go. It was if He had my face in His hands reminding me and reassuring me. I have memorized it and recited it aloud at various times each day since. I’m thanking Him for it. I never will deserve it, but will forever by grateful it’s true. I submit to you. Believe and receive Him saying intimately to you, “I am the Lord. I have called you to righteousness. I will take you by the hand and I will keep you.” Memorize and incorporate this into your prayers this summer.
This is important and will help you rest and renew in His love and call upon your life to the priesthood of all believers. Because, we are issuing a call throughout Come Rest and our sphere of influence to summer-long intercession from Psalm 56 & 1 Samuel 21:10-22:2—which we have been tracking/studying the last couple weeks. Please read/reread these this week.
First, as we emphasized last week, please pray daily for those who are afraid—that they will put all their trust in Jesus. Psalm 56 is a Song of Deliverance the Holy Spirit first breathed in David after he escaped Saul’s incessant persecution and the frightening hands of the Philistine king of Gath; from the frying pan into the fire! He then feigned insanity and escaped Gath to the cave of Adullam. Think of it. The young anointed king ascends with great favor of man having defeated Goliath and killed tens of thousands of Philistines while assisting King Saul and now descends in the fear of man in the most vulnerable, isolated, terrifying, and desperate moment of his life. Think of it. At this fragile time the Holy Spirit breathes Psalm 56. Then David’s family hears of his location in Adullam and gathers to him. Then everyone who was distressed, in debt, or discontented gathered to him. About 400 men. Think of it. It’s at this time, for the first time, David is made captain over them. The Lord’s anointed, persecuted by the previous king, afraid of another king—finally becomes a governing king. Many of them would become his mighty men, but for now they were simply a mighty mess! This is all truly prophetic of the first and second coming of Christ and His Kingdom! The Lord’s ways are indeed high above our ways. There’s hope for all of us. All who have messed up can be blessed up. All who are flighty or frighty can become mighty. Think of it.
There’s more to say, but we will wait until next week. For now, we call all friends of Come Rest, and every born-again believer within our sphere of influence to join us in daily prayer for the following categories of people. Pray each day through the end of July. As you pray generally, wait on the Lord to bring specific individuals to your heart and mind. Pray life and life abundant over them, in Jesus’ name!
1. Pray for those who are afraid, that they would put all their trust in Jesus. Wait in silence a moment, He might put specific people on your heart.
2. Pray for those who are being persecuted for following Jesus; that they would be delivered and endure fruitfully until they are.
3. Pray for your extended family to come join you at the feet of Jesus in real faith, hope, and love.
4. Pray for all who are distressed in body and soul, or enslaved in debt, or who are discontented; that they would come to Jesus and find rest and become mighty under His Captaincy!
We are on the verge of unprecedented earnest, fervent, effectual prayer in our lives! This is the next step by His Spirit. Think of it. Even more, pray for it.
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FROM LAST WEEK(In case you missed it.) We enjoyed a full house for our day retreat here yesterday. Among the scriptures the Spirit brought forth during the retreat was Psalm 56. It will be our launching verse for our Awakening of Love worship and intercession flow tomorrow night.
As we reflect this morning, verse 3 is shining forth from His blazing heart of love. Jesus SO understands and feels your emotions, because He lives in your heart. He not only understands when you feel threatened, but also how to lead you as He defeats the threat. Your job is to share what you feel with Him in prayer and then put all your trust in Him. He won’t force you to pray. He won’t force you to trust. He won’t force you to obey. You are free to follow Him and He will help you. You are also free to wallow in your fears, and be intimidated. He won’t help you do that. He’ll sit in your heart and wait and call to you; but He won’t force you. He set you free from Satan’s kingdom and transferred you into His kingdom of His marvelous light. It’s now always your free choice to either act in the dark illusion you are on your own; or enter afresh His Kingdom reality that He is with you to help you keep trusting, obeying, following—HIM. Intimacy with Him always defeats intimidation. Yes, there are many threats around us. So what? Come rest, come walk, come thrive in the Light.
Someone you know feeling afraid; maybe even you? Please enjoy and share our much loved, much watched video on Psalm 56, When I Am Afraid @ https://youtu.be/JQ6ZLl2WHms
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Local friends: Summer is bursting at Rehoboth, 3434 Riverside Drive NE!
· Sunday June 29th! Come Up! Class 830AM! Arrive early as 8. We release at 930 so everyone may go to their respective church services.
I-58 House Meeting 630PM! Arrive early as 6. We release at 8 so the house is clear by 9.
· Next Personal Retreat Day is July 16th, 845-4. Apply soon at jkadlec@imonmail.com.
· Next Awakening of Love worship at CLC FRI July 18th, 630-830! 2808 Shaeffer Dr SW.
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Thank you SO much for financial support; ESPECIALLY this summer. as giving often drops off. Ask what He wants you to sow by mail or website. Your seeds propel our simple mission of prayer, teaching, evangelism, counsel, encouragement, gatherings, writing, videos! You’ll be blessed! “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 2 Cor 9:10-11
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Minister through our website (www.comerestministries.com)! Use it to introduce friends to CRM. Request prayer, check updates, enjoy videos, donate. Your tool to help people rest in His love!
We pray life abundant over you and yours in Jesus’ name!
Dick and Kim Speight
Richard F. Speight, Jr.
Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Come Rest Ministries
P.O. Box 11010
Cedar Rapids, Iowa