He makes me lie down…
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 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. Psalm 23 (NIV)
Psalm 23 is a passage that many Christians can recite by heart, there is nothing new there. For me this last month the Lord has had this passage on my heart very strongly.
This is the season of running around, making a list and checking it twice. I know I have suffered being to busy in the last month, and I have to admit what I was busy with were all important things. If they weren’t I would not have done them. Even though I was doing my devotions, I was still running around doing important things that in the course of everything I lost my zeal for all of it. I was burned out in every area of my life.
Read verse 2 again, “he makes me lie down in green pastures.” It does not say he suggests we lie down, or maybe you should lie down, possibly you should slow down. No it says “He MAKES me lie down…” there is not an option there. Have you ever had a time in your life where you are just knocked down and almost forced to be still? Maybe you became sick, or maybe things did not go as planned and because of it you were left sitting there wondering what is going on. For example, I listened to my devotions on my I-Pod (it broke), I finished my bible study (but each new one I picked up the Lord was saying NO, not right now), and then over Thanksgiving I became sick and worn out.
There are times the Lord brings us to a stand still where there is nothing left to do or say except to lie down in His green pastures.
Just stop.
Ok Lord what devotional do you want me to do now?
Nothing!
Nothing?
I need to work this problem out, Lord what is your answer?
Just stop.
Maybe I need to pray better, should I read more on prayer?
No just stop.
I believe part of my sickness I had over Thanksgiving was the Lord telling me to stop. Stop worrying, stop trying to get everything done. I have to admit when I stopped the Lord brought forward things I have not wanted to deal with, but he gently has peeled back some of the areas of pain and has begun to heal. He has me sitting still. It is not a place that is easy for me, but I have found it refreshing. I am excited to see where the Lord leads, but right now he is working on things in my heart.
The Lord is making me lie down in green pastures.
Bless you sweet Laurel, praying for you.