Psalm 23:3
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
I ended up reading the whole Psalm a couple of times and just meditating on the words as I sunk down in the tub to relax.
Restoration.
A cup running over…
A rod and staff that comforts me…
I shall not want.
I’ve wanted rest for a couple of weeks now. I could have made myself rest…but I’m pretty stubborn. I push myself to the limits most days and squeeze as much time out of 24 hours a day as I can! It’s a mama thing, right?
Maybe you need some rest, too. Maybe you have been pulled in 100 directions this week and it’s only Monday. Maybe you are anxious, fearful, spiritually starved and/or frazzled. As I was reading a commentary on Psalm 23, I read this quote and had to share, because mama’s are a lot like stubborn sheep….or at least I am:
“Philip Keller (in A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23) writes that sheep do not lie down easily and will not unless four conditions are met. Because they are timid they will not lie down if they are afraid. Because they are social animals they will not lie down if there is friction among the sheep. If flies or parasites trouble them they will not lie down. Finally, if sheep are anxious about food or hungry they will not lie down. Rest comes because the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies, and famine.”
Mama, I know you don’t want to lie down until all your conditions are met. The dishwasher is loaded, school clothes are laid out, lunches are packed, kids are in bed with a kiss goodnight and laundry is done. Listen…that causes a lot of anxiety. Let God deal with all that. He is your Shepherd. You shall not want. Rest in green pastures and allow Him to lead you beside the still waters. His rod and staff is there for your comfort.
Your pasture and waters may look different from mine…but He knows exactly what will restore your soul. My restoration came tonight in meditating on Psalm 23. My green pasture is a light work load this week and a weekend anniversary getaway. My still waters was a tub full of hot water and bubbles.
Let God deal with all the conditions that need to be met for you to lie down. He will have you restored and your cup running over. Let Him be God…you just be the sheep following the Shepherd.
You shall not want.
