Let's get on with it

Okay then, let's see if I can move this thing along. I'm behind on my "One Year Bible" and I really just want to go get a shower and snuggle down in the bed and catch up on that. But here we go. Or here I go.

You maketh me lie down in green pastures, you leadeth my beside the still waters.

Well, huh. I like that it says you MAKE me lie down. I'm not good at resting, and I think God knows that I need to. That I need to give to Him everything. The big, the small, the stuff that I think I need to handle. Give it to Him and lay down in rest. Sounds easy in theory.

He leads me to a quiet place. I am so convinced that God needs me to be quiet, still to hear His voice. I need to not be too busy. Not running all over the place. Limit what I do outside of my home, so that I can always be available to hear His voice. I love Psalm, 46, where David says,

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

It's also a song I sing when I find myself in need of calming, focusing, relaxing, giving it to God. He begs me to get still and be with Him. I am His greatest joy, and He wants to spend time with me. The nice, normal me. Not always the crazy "I can't handle it, God...." me.

So,
He asks me to rest so I can be of the best service to him. He asks me to let Him be my calm place.

Okay, that was more succinct. Onward we (I) go.

He restoreth my soul:

You know, I had a lot of hurt in my life. Yep, I know everyone has. I hope not everyone hangs on to it the way I do. As soon as I encounter a repeat offender, and it seems that I so often do, I say, "Yep, there you go again." And I tend to pull away and make myself harder to get to, harder to reach. But you know, God is in charge of my soul. He can make my soul complete again. Heal old wounds, heal the new ones. He can make me whole again after a huge offense, or make me whole again after a hard day with the kids. Big or small, he makes me soul whole. No rhyming intended.

You are able to heal and protect my soul. It belongs to you anyway.

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Huh. I'm itching to look this one up in a commentary. God didn't tell me to research it. He asked me to interpret it for myself. Okay, letting go here... I know God wants me to do right. I know he wants me to obey. It took Blackaby for me to realize that it was for my own good, not that God was trying to keep me from fun. I've been reading Proverbs, and it sticks with me how much it talks about wisdom and walking a wise, obedient path. But why? For His name's sake. So I can honor and glorify him? So He'll be glorified by my obedience? So I'll be blessed? To show my love and gratitude to him? Yes to all the above? I've gotta meditate on that one.



He wants me to do right, for my own sake. And for His sake.


Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil

Well, that's pretty easy to say. So easy to quote, but if I found out I had a month to live, would I be okay with that? If I lost a child, would that be okay? If I was in mortal danger because of my beliefs, like so many Christians are in parts of our world today, would I be okay with that? Would I really not fear anything? Of course not. I'm feeble and weak and gluttonous in my need for well being. So I can't declare this one as David did. And man, did he go through some hard stuff. Never has anyone wanted to kill me. I mean really, like Saul did him. And he said he wouldn't be scared. I definitely have a lot to work on.

Even when you lead me through horrific times in my life, I won't be scared or afraid.

for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

There's my shepherd again. David killed a lion and a bear, to protect his flock. As a very young teenager. I think his flock probably felt pretty safe with him. And what do I have to fear, as the Creator of the universe walks with me? He okayed everything that comes into my life. He even said it would benefit me in the end. Why a rod and a staff? One to lead and one to protect? Okay, then those comfort me. I can think of other comforts of God too. The Bible, His Spirit, my Godly friends, nature... So in the horrific, the good, the bad, the banal, I am constantly comforted and loved by God.

You are with me, always. I can never doubt that. You have sent tangible things to comfort me, along with the intangible.

Welp, I can no longer push away the fatigue that is washing over me. I'm off to cleanse my body and my soul. And rest. With my most precious Lord. Hey, maybe I am learning...