"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).

   "God's rest" is a very interesting subject to me, especially recently as I entered it to a deeper degree, and it was a theme He was speaking to me about. God's rest is a subject people have written entire books on but I will summarize what God showed me.

   First of all, I think it is important to point out that there are different kinds of "rests." The most popular understanding of entering "God's rest" is the Sabbath day, one day a week we are to set aside from work and rest. I find it interesting that the Sabbath is a day of rest, for fellowship ("sacred assembly"). "There are six days when you may work. but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord" (Leviticus 23:3). There are actually seven Sabbaths (The "high Sabbaths") but that's another study. Even so, "God's rest" is much more than that! Thus begins my story...

I just finished a season of "seeking His face" recently and everything else was laid aside. I am not involved in ministry and I have been spending most of my time in prayer, reading the Word, reading a dozen or so devotional-type studies a day, and going to Bible studies and worship times. I have spent time with friends and Yvethe's family and spoke to my parents for over one hr. today. I am content and happier than ever, I have favor with God and those I come in contact with, my relationship with Yvethe could not be better and I don't feel any stress. I'm healthy and definitely feel connected to the Lord, never content and still pressing in for more. But that is not all. His rest is so much more... I am no longer striving in my flesh. In fact, I am doing everything in His power. I also think God's rest is a time of refreshing spiritually. I am being fed now like never before and His Word is like living water to the soul. As I rest in Him and His handiwork, He is able to do what He wants. He dwells and rules without rival within. If I come to Him and take His yoke (Matt. 11:28-30), He gives me rest for my soul, exactly what I am feeling, but to take His yoke I have to get rid of mine! In this place of God's rest, nothing moves me. The enemy can't disrupt me. My flesh is subject to the Spirit and the Lord is first and foremost in my life. All aspects of my life are working properly and everything is balanced, for they have found their place in Him. For His rest is His Holy Spirit...

Rest (Noun and Verb) - Vine's Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
 

A-1, Noun, 372, anapausis
"cessation, refreshment, rest" (ana, "up," pauo, "to make to cease"), the constant word in the Sept. for the Sabbath "rest," is used in Mat_11:29; here the contrast seems to be to the burdens imposed by the Pharisees. Christ's "rest" is not a "rest" from work, but in work, "not the rest of inactivity but of the harmonious working of all the faculties and affections, of will, heart, imagination, conscience, because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development" (J. Patrick, in Hastings' Bib. Dic.); it occurs also in Mat_12:43; Luk_11:24; Rev_4:8, RV, "(they have no) rest" [AV, "(they) rest (not)"], where the noun is the object of the verb echo, "to have;" so in Rev_14:11.

A-2, Noun, 2663, katapausis
in classical Greek, denotes "a causing to cease" or "putting to rest;" in the NT, "rest, repose;" it is used (a) of God's "rest;" Act_7:49; Heb_3:11, Heb_3:18; Heb_4:1, Heb_4:3 (twice), RV (1st part), "that rest" (the AV, "rest," is ambiguous), Heb_4:5, Heb_4:11; (b) in a general statement, applicable to God and man, Heb_4:10.

A-3, Noun, 425, anesis
for the significance of which see EASE, B, is translated "rest" in 2Co_2:13, AV (RV, "relief"); 2Co_7:5 (ditto); in 2Th_1:7, the subject is not the "rest" to be granted to the saints, but the Divine retribution on their persecutors; hence the phrase "and to you that are afflicted rest with us," is an incidental extension of the idea of recompense, and is to be read parenthetically. The time is not that at which the saints will be relieved of persecution, as in 1Th_4:15-17, when the Parousia of Christ begins, but that at which the persecutors will be punished, namely, at the epiphany (or out-shining) of His Parousia (2Th_2:8). For similar parentheses characteristic of epistolary writings see 1Th_4:10; 1Th_1:6; 1Th_2:15-16.

A-4, Noun, 4520, sabbatismos
"a Sabbath-keeping," is used in Heb_4:9, RV, "a sabbath rest," AV marg., "a keeping of a sabbath" (akin to sabbatizo, "to keep the Sabbath," used, e.g., in Exo_16:30, not in the NT); here the sabbath-keeping is the perpetual sabbath "rest" to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers (ideally!!!!) in their fellowship with the Father and the Son, in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the Law. Because this sabbath "rest" is the "rest" of God Himself, Heb_4:10, its full fruition is yet future, though believers now enter into it. In whatever way they enter into Divine "rest," that which they enjoy is involved in an indissoluble relation with God.

A-5, Noun, 2838, koimesis
"a resting, reclining" (akin to keimai, "to lie"), is used in Joh_11:13, of natural sleep, translated "taking rest," RV. Note: In Act_9:31, AV, eirene, "peace" (RV), is translated "rest."

B-1, Verb, 373, anapauo
akin to A, No. 1, in the Active Voice, signifies "to give intermission from labor, to give rest, to refresh," Mat_11:28; 1Co_16:18, "have refreshed;" Phm_1:7, "are refreshed;" in the Middle Voice, "to take or enjoy rest," Mat_26:45; Mar_6:31; Mar_14:41; Luk_12:19, "take thine ease;" 1Pe_4:14; Rev_6:11; Rev_14:13. See REFRESH. In the papyri it is found as an agricultural term, e.g., of giving land "rest" by sowing light crops upon it. In inscriptions it is found on gravestones of Christians, followed by the date of death (Moulton and Milligan).

B-2, Verb, 2664, katapauo
akin to A, No. 2, used transitively, signifies "to cause to cease, restrain," Act_14:18; "to cause to rest," Heb_4:8; intransitively, "to rest," Heb_4:4, Heb_4:10. See CEASE, A, No. 6, RESTRAIN.

B-3, Verb, 1981, episkenoo
"to spread a tabernacle over" (epi, "upon," skene, "a tent"), is used metaphorically in 2Co_12:9, "may rest upon (me)," RV, marg., "cover," "spread a tabernacle over." 

B-4, Verb, 2681, kataskenoo
"to pitch one's tent, lodge," is translated "shall rest," in Act_2:26, AV (RV, "shall dwell"). See LODGE.

B-5, Verb, 2270, hesuchazo
"to be still, to rest from labor," is translated "they rested" in Luk_23:56. See PEACE (hold one's), No. 3.

B-6, Verb, 1879, epanapauo
"to cause to rest," is used in the Middle Voice, metaphorically, signifying "to rest upon" (epi, "upon," and No. 1), in Luk_10:6; Rom_2:17. Note: For "find rest" Rom_15:32, RV, see REFRESH, No. 2.