From the Desk of the Eagle Eye Scribe

Monthly Blog 9/2020

From the Desk of the Eagle Eye Scribe by Chaplain Nikita Johnson

Theme-Seeing from God’s Perspective

September 2020 -Learning the Season for Laboring to enter into God’s Rest

Scripture Reference- Hebrews 4:11 (read this entire chapter, the one before, and the one after for context) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

In September, many students are returning back to school. We celebrate Labor Day this month and the beginning of Fall or Autumn. Labor Day was created in the 1880s by the labor movement, and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements and contributions of strength, prosperity and well being made by the American worker.

Going back to a scholastic setting looks very different this school year across the country and around the world because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Students are learning remotely via the internet, they are having a hybrid learning environment of partial restricted in-school and at-home remote learning, and they are in sanitized, restricted and monitored small group learning pods where they must wear face coverings, stay behind barriers, and consistently exercise 6 feet apart social distancing. There seems to be no end in sight. People are growing weary of and are not completely following mandatory restrictions and guidelines.

But this season change from Summer to Fall reminds us that it will not always be this way. Change is coming. We will learn how to get through to and even enjoy a new normal. We are not alone; God is always with us. We have to be strategic and intentional about laboring to enter into God’s rest, trusting that He will cause all things to work together for our good. Rest is important physically and spiritually as well. When we rest in God’s promises, God works on our behalf. Rest is not inactivity. It is focused and Holy Spirit directed activity. We rest when we are not trying to make things happen in our own strength, but when we are relying on God for guidance, empowerment, and direction. It doesn’t come naturally for us, especially in the task and achievement driven society in which we live. We have to practice laboring to enter into God’s rest here on earth so that we can be effective witnesses for Jesus, who will daily help us to build His kingdom. And when our time here on earth has come to an end, every believer will enjoy the eternal rest in heaven, resting in the bosom of Abraham. Amen.

Simple Prayer- Heavenly Father, we come before you with praise and thanksgiving for who you are and for all you have done. We thank you for life, and that more abundantly, health, for by your stripes we are healed, and strength, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. We thank you for this day, for this is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Dear God, help us to labor to enter your rest, trusting your word and standing on your promises.We pray for all students everywhere, from early head start, to trade schools, to apprentices and interns, to graduate studies students.Bless them, keep them, and help them to excel the the positive things they endeavor to do. We ask this in Jesus name, for we are (1) Deeply loved by you. Amen.

Songs to meditate on this month-

1. Intentional by Travis Greene

2. Turn your eyes upon Jesus by Lauren Daigle

3. Changed -by Tramaine Hawkins

4. Near the Cross- by Mississippi Mass Choir