The Perfect Getaway

Recently, I recorded myself on my phone reading many of my favorite Bible verses. Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, I will play it back.

It’s better than counting sheep!

God is serious about rest. He rested after creation. Jesus rested peacefully in a boat that was tossed by a violent storm.

Then He tells us,

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The word Jesus uses there for “rest” in Greek is anapauo, which means to pause, refresh, or take a break.

It’s like Jesus is telling us—

“Come away with Me and let’s escape this wearisome world for awhile.”

As beautiful as this world is, it’s tiring. It’s also corrupt. Why? Because we all have a corrupt human nature.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭9‬ ‭

Jesus invites us to a place where we can escape the world’s corruption—where we can get our souls refreshed. This place is found in His presence—but also in His promises.

“He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬

How can a promise be a way of escape?

Since it is impossible for God to lie, we can be assured that whatever He promises, He will do. By knowing and believing His promises, our hearts and minds are transported to a place of rest.

One of my favorite promises of Jesus is,

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3

Two other favorites are:

“I have given you authority… over all the power of the enemy” Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7‭

Just as Jesus in the desert could overcome the temptations of the devil by declaring scripture, we too have been promised authority to overcome the devil’s attacks. Just like Jesus, we can tell satan, “It is written”—and he will flee!

The more we know and declare God’s great and precious promises, the easier it will be to experience perfect peace, escape the stresses of life, and find the perfect getaway—in the presence of Jesus!

“Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” Mark 6:31