Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Last year, unsettling things might’ve happened in your life. You might have much tension about how this year will pan out. But don’t worry or be anxious – Jesus is with us in 2016. His Presence will give you rest and you will walk in God’s rest.



In the New Testament, it is said that Jesus did everything well (Mark 7.37). He did everything complete and well for our salvation as well. Be confident that God will do everything well for your life in 2016.
In Gen 1, God looked at His creations and said ‘It is good’. On the sixth day, He created man and said, ‘It is very good’. God rested only after ‘very good’ came into His vocabulary. In 2016, God declares He will do not just good, but very good things in our lives.

God blesses His children with:

1. Financial rest
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If you’re going through life without getting into debt, that is ‘good’. But if you’re tensed about tomorrow, it’s not ‘very good’. This year, cast off your burden concerning financial lack. God’s provision will be in abundance, and He
will bless you until you are at rest in Him. In the wedding at Cana, Jesus turned water to wine not as a sleight of hand but to save the family from being shamed in front of their guests. The Lord understands our situations; He will not put us to shame.

2. Emotional rest
There are many who pray, fast and read the word. Yet there is no peace in their hearts. Guilt, fear and anxiety shadow their minds. In 2016, Jesus’ rest will fill your mind. Everything that vexes and torments your soul will be loosed in His name. You will experience his love and mercy daily, and His peace will fill your mind.


3. Physical rest
Many of us suffer from illness, or from fear of illness. But God’s Word reassures us that no plague shall come near your dwelling (Psalm 91.10). God desires your rest: there will be miraculous healing in your body. The anointing of healing that Christ declared 2,000 years ago on the cross will flow over your life.


4. Rest in relationships
When you are not at rest, you will cast your burden on another person. This is why there is often unrest in relationships. After all, you can give rest only if you yourself are at rest. When God’s peace enters relationships, you are able to forgive, love and be humble. Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4.8). This year, God’s joy and peace will be upon homes. Bless your children so that God’s peace and rest would be upon them.


Moving from ‘good’ to ‘very good’
Some want to reach the top all they do, be it work, career or ministry. But that is only ‘good’: even people of the world are able to do that. In Gen 1.20-24, God looks at flying birds, swimming fish and walking beasts and declares them to be good. God does good things even for the unsaved, for those who haven’t received Jesus.

But for His church, God wants nothing short of ‘very good’, far and above the people of the world who have ‘good’. God declared man to be very good, because he was created in His image and according to His likeness (Gen 1.26). When we received Jesus, God’s likeness came upon us and Jesus himself is with us.


What has God given man to make him ‘very good’?

1. God gives you His authority to create. When you walk in your knowledge, you are in the realm of ‘good’. But when you realize who you are – a child of good – you move into ‘very good’. When you get a revelation that God’s presence is within you, you will receive His authority to create. When God anoints you, you can call forth by faith what is not, in Jesus’ name.

2. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Gen 1.2
God exhorts you not to fear darkness or emptiness. As His spirit moved over darkness, so will you. In 2016 you will be above the waters, you will dance over the waves. As Peter walked over the water looking to Jesus, you will move in the anointing of the Holy Spirit over the waters.

3. God gives you naming rights: whatever you choose to call something, that will it be. You can name this new year. You yourself can name your life and your family. God will look at it and say declare it to be ‘very good’.
In Mark 5, the woman with issue of blood said “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” She touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed. Then Jesus says, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” What she declared over herself came to pass and God’s peace came upon her.

To enter into God’s rest:

For I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm

You need to know that God loves you, and that He is a good God. When you have that assurance, you enter into His rest.

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

In His presence, there is rest. In Acts 12, we find Peter fast asleep in prison, though he was to be beheaded the next day. He was at peace because he had a word from God that he would die a martyr for Christ in his old age. He knew he will not perish in the prison. Our heart is at rest when our sins are forgiven, when we know Christ died for our sins. Hold God’s Word tight and you will enjoy the peace and presence of God in 2016.