As a child, my mom had me and my siblings memorize Psalm 23:
I've come to this passage many times in various seasons of life. Today, as I was reading it, "He makes me lie down..." stuck out to me. All to often, I find myself in GO GO GO mode, seemingly always looking to what's next - whether that is the next meeting I'm preparing for or just thinking about the next season of life (a friend wrote a great blog on singleness that has also spoken to this thought process). And in that, I find it hard to truly rest - even learning to live in the now.
I then thought about the beginning of time, when God was creating the world, knowing all that would unfold, HE still took time to rest. And in this Psalm, it tells me that HE makes me rest.
Productivity. Tasks. Parties. Travel. Chores. Endless to-do lists.
How often do I fight the idea of rest with the urge to remain busy? All too much. And the scary part is that it is not a difficult battle.
But, when I do, it's in those quite times, I can hear HIM speak even more clearly and truthfully. Busyness is just another one of those tricks Satan has so sneakily crafted to keep us from experiencing a true and focused time with God. And I "fall prey" to it all too much.
Truth: my current life situation - work, part of the world I live in, roommate situation, church I attend, the community I have - is exactly where God has me to best further HIS Kingdom. And it might change in the future, but for now, I need to focus and live by the power of the Spirit in the daily tasks HE has set before me.
Oh the day when I see Jesus' face, I know my heart will sing "How great is our God!"
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
I've come to this passage many times in various seasons of life. Today, as I was reading it, "He makes me lie down..." stuck out to me. All to often, I find myself in GO GO GO mode, seemingly always looking to what's next - whether that is the next meeting I'm preparing for or just thinking about the next season of life (a friend wrote a great blog on singleness that has also spoken to this thought process). And in that, I find it hard to truly rest - even learning to live in the now.
I then thought about the beginning of time, when God was creating the world, knowing all that would unfold, HE still took time to rest. And in this Psalm, it tells me that HE makes me rest.
Productivity. Tasks. Parties. Travel. Chores. Endless to-do lists.
How often do I fight the idea of rest with the urge to remain busy? All too much. And the scary part is that it is not a difficult battle.
But, when I do, it's in those quite times, I can hear HIM speak even more clearly and truthfully. Busyness is just another one of those tricks Satan has so sneakily crafted to keep us from experiencing a true and focused time with God. And I "fall prey" to it all too much.
Truth: my current life situation - work, part of the world I live in, roommate situation, church I attend, the community I have - is exactly where God has me to best further HIS Kingdom. And it might change in the future, but for now, I need to focus and live by the power of the Spirit in the daily tasks HE has set before me.
Oh the day when I see Jesus' face, I know my heart will sing "How great is our God!"
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