In the Bible, from the very beginning, we see the concept of rest. In Genesis, after God created the universe in six days, He rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). This divine rest is not just about physical rest but encompasses a deeper spiritual rest that God wants for all His children.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of this rest, urging believers to strive to enter into it (Hebrews 4:9-11). Jesus Himself invites us to come to Him for rest, saying, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). This invitation highlights the universal human need for rest and refreshing amid life's challenges.

To enter this rest, it all begins with receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Jesus' invitation is open to everyone who is burdened and weary. He promises rest for our souls, a promise that brings profound peace and comfort. Revelation 3:20 illustrates Jesus knocking at the door of our hearts, waiting for us to invite Him in. When we open the door and let Him in, He brings the promised rest.

James 4:8 encourages us to draw near to God, and He will draw near to us. The most crucial step in drawing near to God is by accepting Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Through Jesus, we have access to the Father, who created all things.

After Jesus' earthly ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection, He ascended to heaven. He assured His followers that He would send the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Guide (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit now dwells in believers, making us temples of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). This divine presence in our hearts is how we draw near to God and find rest.

In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul discusses the gift of speaking in tongues, often referred to as a prayer language. This gift is a means of communicating with God, and Paul connects it to the prophecy in Isaiah 28:11-12, which speaks of rest and refreshing. Praying in tongues allows believers to enter into this divine rest, as it builds up their faith and connects them deeply with God (Jude 20).

This spiritual rest is not just for personal comfort but is also where healing, miracles, wisdom, and divine insights are found. Jesus highlighted this in His interaction with Martha and Mary. While Martha was busy with many tasks, Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to Him (Luke 10:38-42). Mary’s posture of rest and attentiveness is a model for us, showing that true rest comes from being in God's presence and listening to His voice.

Using our prayer language, even in everyday activities, can help us maintain this posture of rest. Whether we are doing household chores, driving, or waiting in line, we can pray quietly, staying connected with God. Hebrews 4:11 exhorts us to labor to enter that rest, indicating that our effort should be focused on using our prayer language to position ourselves in God’s rest.

This rest and refreshing through speaking in tongues, or the heavenly language, is God's gift to us. It is the means by which we enter into the fullness of God's completed work and experience His peace and renewal in our lives.

Scriptures:

• Genesis 2:2-3: "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
• Hebrews 4:9-11: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience."
• Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
• Revelation 3:20: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
• James 4:8: "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
• John 14:6: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
• John 14:16-17: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
• 1 Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
• 1 Corinthians 14:14-15: "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding."
• Isaiah 28:11-12: "Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, 'This is the resting place, let the weary rest,' and, 'This is the place of repose'—but they would not listen."
• Jude 20: "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit."
• Luke 10:38-42: "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'"