Lying Down in Green Pastures

Lying Down in Green Pastures

Psalm 23:2-3  2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.

Hmmm. I’m going to write this scripture down and carry it around with me. Lying down in tender green pastures beside still and restful waters, my soul being restored, that sounds even better than Calgon! This passage says He makes me lie down. To make someone do something means you force them to act. Doesn’t it seem amazing that God would have to force us to take a break? Sometimes life just gets so busy and we are running in a hundred different directions feeling frazzled, stressed out, drained and weary. (Maybe that’s just me?) It’s good to remember we serve a God who is concerned that our souls find a place of peace.

When we stay focused on God, we will never lose that place of rest. It says in Isaiah 26:3 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.  When we enter into His presence we walk out refreshed, renewed and restored. Acts 3:19 exhorts us 19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.  Isn’t it funny that we try to find so many other ways to take a break? A morning free from the kids drinking coffee with your girlfriends may be a lot of fun, but won’t revive you like a few moments in the presence of God. An afternoon at the day spa may leave you feeling completely energized for a couple of hours, but a lifestyle of spending time with the Lord, fellowshipping and worshipping Him will leave you in a state of constant refreshment.

I challenge you to take your Shepherd up on His direction today. Take a few minutes to stop whatever you’re doing and get in His presence. Focus solely on Him. Worship him, praise him, get lost in His presence. Now do you feel refreshed? Allow him to restore your soul today!