Choosing To Rest
Psalms 23:2-3
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
As a kid I dreamed of living like a native Americans. When I was about 5 years old my parents gave me a kids Fred Bear fiberglass bow and a six pack of wood arrows. I snuck around the camp yard with that bow and flung arrows at leaves, butterflies and occasionally an unsuspecting chipmunk or chickadee.
I dreamed of sneaking up on a big buck and then carrying him back to camp. I read old magazines and stories of natives and their old ways and asleep thinking of what it really be like.
When I was finally old enough to bow hunt deer on my own, I borrowed my brother's 1970s knee high moccasins and headed off early one November morning. The leaves on the ground were damp and quiet. I snuck along a hardwood ridge and as I crested a small rise there was the buck I had dreamed of. His antlers weren't big, but he was an amazing trophy to me.
He must have been out chasing does all night long as he was sound asleep. I pulled an arrow out of my hip quiver and put it on the string. I drew back and released the arrow, that flew right towards the buck. Then there it went, right over the bucks back, sticking in the damp ground beyond the buck. The buck jumped to his feet, still half asleep then turned and walked out of my dreams. Never even knowing how his lack of rest nearly cost him his life.
Reading something our friend and friend of God's Great Outdoors wrote last week, reminded me of this story. Christi Ray understands the need for rest and does a great job of expressing it...
Christi wrote...
Today while watching my three month old grandson, God spoke to me about rest. Taten (my grandson) needed physical rest. I had fed him and changed his diaper so all of his physical needs were met, he just needed rest/sleep. He was fighting it, he didn't want any part of rest even though he was exhausted. As he was whining/crying a little bit, God reminded me of the similarities between Taten and I. As I was watching him battle, I told him, "little man just go to sleep and you'll feel so much better".
God convicted me with my thoughts about this baby needing rest. He reminded me about how often I need to rest and I just choose not to. Although I sometimes physically need rest, I knew the point that God was trying to remind me of.....spiritual rest.
So many times we battle with thoughts and trials that are all consuming, when all we have to do is take a rest.
Baby Tate finally gave it up and went to sleep. When he woke up, he was much more joyful and much easier to deal with. When I choose to rest and handle things the way that God would have me, I am much more joyful. Sleep (rest) for Tate was readily available for him. There was nothing to stop him going to sleep other than his desire to fight it. We are naturally born with an opposing nature. We naturally have a hard time giving in to what He has for us. Rest is readily available.... all of the time.... no matter the situation.
When we finally decide to rest, isn't it just peaceful? Even when/if still have the same situation to deal with, it's just much easier when we've chosen to "rest" in Him
by Dean Hulce and Christi Ray
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