Rest

Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Rest is not something that I do very well. Actually I down right stink at just chillin out and taking a load off. I don't know if you have ever had the chance to just walk through or lie down in a green pasture or maybe your lawn, but I remember as a kid my brothers and I would run out into the middle of a hay field and just lay down and look up. It was awesome we would see passing clouds and declare a shape for each one or we would see an airplane and wonder where it was going and how many people were on board. But it was amazing. I don't know if you have ever walked along a rivers bank or a large body of water but it is again awesome and peaceful all at the same time. There is something about rest that restores me when I would take the time. It restores me physically, it restores me mentally, it restores me emotionally and most importantly spiritually. Over the past couple of months I have been practicing rest in the morning by just chillin with my Bible and God and spending some time seeking Him. It has been some of the best time of my life spiritually as the Lord restores me each morning before heading off to face a great big ugly world. It is interesting that after all the restful things that the Lord does in this passage, the psalmist says, "he guides me in path's of righteousness." Maybe what David is telling me is that rest will lead to being able to hear guides voice as he directs me in life and that I am more likely to make right choices. Today may I find times of rest in order that Christ might guide me to live a holy and righteous life that would reflect Him to those around me.

Father today may you help me to rest. May I not make excuses for not resting. May I find myself making decisions that would honor you and exalt your name.