Dearly beloved, today we will meditate on Psalm 116:7, which says, “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” Accordingly, our loving Lord keeps our bodies and our souls secure at all times. This is why the Psalmist stated in the next verse 8, "For You have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling and falling." Yes, dear friend, we have to just rest in the Lord, and He will take care of everything else. When you are tired and exhausted, it is so comforting to hear God say, "Return to your rest." It is not only God's job to keep our souls rested, but it is also our duty to keep it in a restful and refreshing state.

Look at Martha; she was so busy taking care of Jesus and His disciples that she became anxious and started complaining about her sister to Jesus. What did Jesus say to her? He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.” Sometimes, we do the same thing. When something goes wrong in our lives, we get anxious about things happening around us, and we end up showing our anger toward our loved ones in our own family. This can lead to not talking to them for days, and it not only ruins our peace but also the peace of our family members. We should never be anxious about anything. It is God who keeps our bodies and souls secure and rested. Jesus said to Martha in the next verse, “One thing is needed. Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her.” What is that good part? That is Jesus. Having Jesus in ourselves and putting our belief and trust in Him will keep our souls rested. 

The world says, "Believe in yourself." What do we have in ourselves to believe? Nothing, dear friend. We can't even believe in ourselves. Our body is so flawed; our mind often dwells on negative things. What is there to believe in? Jesus is the only holy One in whom we can place our trust. He sacrificed His life so that we could live in this world. We can completely trust and believe in Jesus. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus wants us to lay our burdens upon Him for rest. Paul also mentioned in Philippians 4:12, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation." We should be content and know that God is in control of everything. In Psalm 46:10, God says, "Be still, and know that I am God." So, return to your rest, dear friend, and do not be anxious. Depend on Jesus alone, and He will give you perfect rest.

PRAYER: 
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the rest and perfect peace that You provide through the Lord Jesus. Even now, I come before You to lay all my worries and burdens at Your feet. You are my Saviour, and You sacrificed Your life for me so that I can live. You are the only one I can trust and who can deliver me from my anxious and negative thoughts. I return to You, Lord, to find peace and rest for my soul in Your loving presence. I know You will take care of everything, from my physical needs to my spiritual nourishment, and make me dwell in safety. Yours is the power, the kingdom, and the glory forever. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.