“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.” (Psalm 23:1,2)
Today is our second “rest” on this lenten journey. We have completed the first 10 days. We are one fourth of the way and it is time for a spiritual picnic. So, lets pack a lunch and follow the Good Shepherd to a green pasture. David’s words in this beloved Psalm have been bringing comfort and rest to the weary and hurting for thousands of years. Will you go to that place today? You know the one I’m talking about? The one by the still waters. The one where a person can lie down in the green grass and He will restore your soul. A place where we can get away from the hurried pace of our lives and take a deep breath.
I love that place. I don’t get there as often as I would like…as often as I should. Even though Jesus invites us to come there at least once a week. That has been His design for you since He created you…actually since the beginning of it all. He knows how badly we need it and He wants to provide it if we will let Him. But we are so busy.
Sometimes it is hard to wind down. These days weekends are anything but rest and relaxation. Many of us start Mondays as tired as we were on Friday. What happened? A lot happened. Too much probably. Somebody stop this train! “Is there a rest stop coming up soon?” People this is not right. We were not created to live like this. We were designed for abundant life! You cannot experience that, however, if you do not have a regular rest…a spiritual pause…a time to reflect and know that we depend on God. We have a God who works 24/7 so you can take a break! So go ahead…step back…there is a picnic waiting for you. Don’t worry…He’s got this.
TRUTH: Working without regular rest is as sinful as resting without ever working.
Do you need restoration? A major part of simplifying our lives is the discipline of regular Sabbath. This is more than rest. It is checking yourself into the rehab center of the Holy Spirit and allowing the Heavenly Father to restore your soul. A picnic so to speak. What do you have to say “no” to today so you can go on this spiritual outing with your Lord?