Getting To GOD's Garden - Part 2 | 01.09.13

Early yesterday morning, shortly after the day's blog post hit the web, I received the following question:
Based on your blog ["Getting To GOD's Garden | 01.08.13"], one could say we hinder our harvest or delay our reaping because we are not perpetually in His presence resting in His already finished work?  After providing an answer, albeit a brief one, I began to hear more.  And before I knew it, I was writing the second installment on this topic.  So the below answer, although based upon the short response originally given to the question, takes a much broader approach than what was originally intended.  Thank You, Holy Spirit...

Answer: Yes and no...  Yes because, based on the notion that GOD desires us to mentally arrive at the finished work before we physically do, we create for ourselves a situation in which it appears the harvest is delayed because we're working outside of GOD's manifested presence to produce fruit.  We grow tired and get weary from the exhaustive work of obtaining results in our own strength and end up requiring down time just to ensure our survival so we can do it all over again.  The world system requires people to rest from work because its workaholic culture of materialism and vain glory of self produces great fatigue.  Heaven's system is able to supersede that of the world because GOD's way of doing things ensures Kingdom citizens perpetually obtain results and rest simultaneously, which the world system deems to be "impossible" simply because it can't figure out how to duplicate such a program WITHOUT GOD.

Now the basis for my answer of "No" to that question is the fact that the finished work cannot be rushed because it's already been completed in eternity [by the Father] and scheduled for a specific moment of arrival in time.  And if the finished work has a specific arrival date, then it can neither be rushed nor delayed.  Our choice to either perpetually rest in His presence or just experience seasons of rest therein determine how we enjoy the journey to our expected end, as a whole.  Over the years, I've embraced the saying, "Life is a journey, not a destination."  When we really learn how to live one day at a time as opposed to stressing over the end result, we can enjoy the journey.  It becomes easier to count our blessings and be grateful for each day GOD gives us.  We can literally experience the more abundant life Christ came to give us, as we celebrate the small victories obtained en route to the expected end GOD has promised us.

My encouragement to everyone is to remain in GOD's presence in such a way that its manifestation is welcome at any time.  This is the perpetual rest GOD has made available to us.  Let's not stress ourselves with the details of how we're going to get to our expected end or how long it will be before we get there.  I'm reminded of my own childhood and how, as most kids, my sister and I would repeatedly ask our mom, "Are we there yet?"  One of the responses my mom was famous for giving was, "I'll tell you when we get there, so just sit back, relax and leave the driving to Greyhound."  (Yes, in case you're wondering, my mother is an amateur comedian. LOL!)  But get this: from the very beginning, she knew where we were going, how long it would take, and so on and so forth all before we left home.  She even prepared for the trip by giving us activities to do while we traveled so were occupied and productive, thereby making the most of our time spent on the journey.  Now to borrow from 1 John 5:9, if we receive the witness of men, is not the witness of GOD greater?  If my mom's preparation and provision to get us to our expected end was successful, isn't GOD's greater?  GOD knows the details and He has promised to get us there.  He has given us work to do that we might enjoy the journey to our expected end while being denied the demands of dealing with details.  In other words, do the will of the Father, do what brings Him pleasure.  It pleases Him that we trust His ability to fulfill His promises to us enough that we engross ourselves in joyfully doing the work He's prepared for us so we can enjoy the journey with Him to our expected end.