Psalm
23:2-3 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he
leadeth me beside the still waters. (3) He restoreth my soul: he
leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
I realize when someone writes a devotion, or a series of devotions, it is
impossible not to put his own experience into those devotions. It is
impossible not to write current events into those devotions. But at the same
time, I am thankful that the Word of God was given to us in such a manner that
it touches us where we live. The Bible would be just another work of
literature if we could not gain personal knowledge, understanding, and
instructions from the Word of God.
We live in a time when people are in a rush to get wherever they're
going. The highways are filled with people driving cars who are in a
hurry to arrive. When beginning a fitness program, we are in a hurry to
see results. When we are not feeling good, we are in a hurry to get better.
Maybe that's part of human nature, but I have to believe we have programmed
ourselves to be in a hurry. We become uneasy if we think we have nothing
to do. We often refuse to allow ourselves to enjoy a sabbath of rest. We read
the words of Jesus in Mark 2:27, "And he said unto them, The sabbath was
made for man, and not man for the sabbath." God made our bodies to
require rest. He set aside a day of rest for us. On that day, we are to think
upon His goodness, grace, and mercy. Meditating upon our Lord gives us a
time of relaxation and rejuvenation.
David spoke those thoughts in our verses for today. "He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (3)
He restoreth my soul." It is the thought of many people that if we
refuse to allow ourselves a regular time to rest that the Lord will place us in
the position where we must look up to Him. He makes me to lie down. I
thank Him that in that time of rest, He provides restoration. Our bodies
rebuild during the night when we are asleep. God provides both the
natural and spiritual nutrition for us to be able to continue in this thing
called life. Oftentimes, it seems we are too busy to stop and listen to
what God is saying to us. We often even neglect how our bodies feel as the Lord
speaks to us through our own bodies. It is so very important in this time of
rushing around that we stop and simply "be still" before the Lord.
After we have had a time of renewal, then the Lord leads us in the paths of righteousness. Sometimes we get so tired that our minds do not work well enough to make proper decisions. The Lord is so good in leading us, but quite honestly we must take time to stop and listen to Him. When was the last time you took the time to just be still before the Lord? When was the last time you ended your prayer with a time of quietness before God? He is glorious in all His works. He is glorious in the way He leads us. Our Lord is glorious!