“As we pray, read the Word, obey God, keep ourselves unspotted from the world, serve, give of our means, Christ will be formed in us. As Christ is formed in us we begin to do God’s will by nature. This is what is meant by “I will put My law in their minds and hearts.” Now we are in the rest of God and delighting to do His will. We now are totally lawful and therefore totally righteous in God’s sight.”

I saw this quote in a daily devotion today. I believe that this writer is presenting a true concept.  When Christ is being formed in us, we begin to find ourselves obeying and walking with Christ ‘by nature’.  We have been changed in our minds and in our hearts.  Doing Christianity by nature eliminates the hardness of keeping Biblical standards that many believers find difficult.  Being obedient to the word begins to be natural in our lives.  This is a process that requires the above outlined disciplines of reading the Bible,  praying, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world, serving and giving, etc.

There are struggles along the way to finding the  rest of God.  You will be tested.  Temptations will come and you will need to do the right thing in these situations.  There will be a denying of your flesh process that you will need to work through.  Regular days of fasting can help you in this process. You will have to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow after Jesus.  What will this look like?  It may be different for you than for someone else.  Some will find they have to reject worldly friends or family to protect themselves from compromising what the Bible teaches about how Christians should live and work.

What prevented the Israelites from entering the promised land?  “Their hearts do always err” says God.  “therefore, they shall not enter my rest”, says God.  God will give us a right heart the Bible says, but if we reject the work of God , then there is only a fearful looking toward a day of judgement.