"Seven is my lucky number", my mom use to declare! You see, she was born on the 7th of January. Mom always "placed her bets" on the number seven at the gambling games at the Topsfield Country Fair, in Massachusetts, where I grew up.

Ever since the calendar page flipped to 2007 I haven't been able to stop thinking about the significance of the "7" in 2007. There are lots of references in the Word to the number seven or multiples of seven. The first reference occurs in Genesis 2:2-"And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done and He RESTED on the seventh day from all His works which He had done!"

Then, in the wilderness, the Children of God were called to rest and to enjoy the Lord on the seventh day. The manna they gathered on the sixth day would hold them over through the seventh day.

Yes, the number 7 stands for completion. And, the word REST means to complete, to stop, to cease (Strongs #7673) This year Randy and I are faced with another major geographical move. There is a lot to be done. However, as I think about the "7" in 2007 and how it is connected to the Rest of God, I am making some declarations. Perhaps you would like to make them with me. Then, from the place of resting in the Lord we will all have a really "lucky" (i.e. blessed) year!

This year I am going to....

cease from my own striving
stop long enough each day to set my gaze upon the Lord
cease from worry and anxious thoughts and cast all my cares over to the Lord
rest in His love, in His greatness, and in His mercy
stop to smell the roses, hug a child, help a friend...

Jesus IS the completion of the Father's plan. HE is the Rest of God! This year don't you really want to know Him more? Let's enjoy all that the Father has done for us, and in faith, enter into His rest! May you experience an abundantly full and complete life in Him. From that place of rest, be "blessed" in 2007!