The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides 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 love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
(Psalm 23)
God's timing is always perfect, and I cannot think of a more relevant time for me to meditate on the beloved 23rd psalm.
I am in dire need of rest, both physically and emotionally. I feel stretched in all directions; my inner emotions are in upheaval, and I think I really need the rest and calming presence of my Shepherd.
Stress, fatigue, discontentment, disapointment, frustration, feelings of being trapped with no way out....these are some of the emotions I am battling with recently, and they overflow into every area of my life. Ironic too that I have also just read Max Lucado's book "Travelling Light", which touched on the topics of shedding our burdens and baggages, so that we can truly find peace, joy and rest in the journey with our Shepherd.
Indeed, I think God is showing me in this Year of Sabbath that I need to shed many emational burdens:
Burdens of want and discontent - and trust in my Shepherd.
Burdens of weariness and fatigue - and rest in His green pastures.
Burdens of disappointment and hurts - and allow Him to anoint my head with oil to sooth, to heal.
Burden of hopelessness - and allow Him to restore my soul.
Burden of fear - and allow His presence to comfort me.
Burden of envy - and realise that in the Lord's presence, my cup will always overflow.
Only then can I truly enter His Sabbath rest.
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