A little more on Psalm 23 (part B if you will)

Several months ago, I wrote a blog post about Psalm 23.  This passage is just too good and speaks to my soul... so I decided to write a little more...

- No good thing does HE withhold.
- God determines what we need, and what is good for us.
- HE is my Shepherd and HE:

1. MAKES me lie down in green pastures. (not just any pastures, GREEN ones!)
2. LEADS me besides still waters (did you know that sheep only drink from still water?)
3. RESTORES my soul - strengthens, comforts, causes me to slow down and benefit from the green pastures and still waters
4. LEADS me on paths of righteousness - the way that is truly the best - for HIS name's sake! (It's all for HIS glory, not to fulfill my desires or wants)
                 (Then it turns even more personal)
5. Especially in the hard times, YOU are WITH me
6. YOU PREPARE lavishly and abundantly so my cup overflows in blessings (one reason we need to slow down and rest in those green pastures and drink from the still waters, is to appreciate how HE is filling our cup!)
7. YOU PURSUE me by YOUR goodness and mercy that follow me - (the phrase"follow me" in Hebrew ["radaph"] means - to attend closely to,  follow after,  pursue,  run after) (How cool is that? GOD is actually "running" after me, pursuing me with HIS goodness, and all to often am too busy to take time and appreciate it)
   
   
   

   

   Nerja, Spain. I'm a sunset kinda gal. I think God has made sunsets as a part of my "green pastures and still waters".
   I love watching God's creativity and beauty displayed differently every time!

"My heart will sing 'How great is our God..."

As a child, my mom had me and my siblings memorize Psalm 23:

"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!"
 

...For the glory of God...

As I read in John 11 the other morning, I was struck by Jesus' attitude and perspective. The story is about Lazarus' illness - his sisters went to Jesus, telling Him their brother was sick, probably with hopes Jesus would heal their brother (if you haven't read the story, I encourage you to!). For me, an eternal perspective and powerful message came across:

"But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

 ... For the glory of God...

This phrase resounded in my heart. Sometimes, things happen that we don't understand or like, they may cause pain and heartache - but may it be for the glory of God...

HE has reasons deeper than we can ever see. Mary and Martha experienced the pain of loosing their brother to death. The heartache, the grieving, the sadness - and it was all so that Jesus could display HIS power by and for the glory of God...

It is important to remember, the Lord hears our cries for help.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord;

to my God I cried for help.

From his temple he heard my voice,

and my cry to him reached his ears." - Psalm 18:6

In the Lazarus' story, Jesus heard the requests of the sisters and  responded to the request in HIS time and ultimately for the glory of God...
 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3: 5-6

... because our Savior always has the best plan and greatest desire for us. And it is in that, though hard to do at times, we should find peace and rest.

A friend recently shared this song with me - it is so great, and it has been my prayer in recent days:

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders 
Let me walk upon the waters 
Wherever You would call me 
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander 
And my faith will be made stronger 
In the presence of my Savior"