He leads me beside still waters
DAY 1
Each day begins with noise. The sound of an alarm, quickly overshadowed by the voices of children or roommates. Not long after, our phone starts buzzing: emails, texts, notifications from Twitter or Facebook, or Instagram. Even when the noise is not audible, we hear it in our souls-the push and pull of tasks, requests, of people who need something from us. It’s like there is an internal click-track, an unyielding cadence that drives us along the day from dawn ’til dusk. How can we get off this train?
The Psalmist invites us to refuse the taskmasters of this world, to turn down the internal volume of the slave driver in our minds, and to hear the Voice of another… the voice of the Lord, the Good Shepherd. It’s not that we abandon our jobs or ignore our responsibilities. It’s that we learn to walk through the day as if the Shepherd is leading us.
What if we start today by quieting our hearts and hearing the call of Jesus?
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (Message)
Listen closely. Do you notice how Jesus keeps calling us to himself? Come to me; get away with me; walk with me; work with me; keep company with me… Rest is not simply ceasing from work. It isn’t a state we achieve or a goal we grasp. Rest-true rest for our souls-is a Person. When we come to Jesus, when we fix our eyes on Him, when we lean in close, His life becomes ours. He is our rest.
Today, let Jesus be your shepherd. Imagine Him leading you to each part of your day. Imagine Him walking with you through dark valleys. Imagine Him preparing a feast for you even in the darkest moments. There are still waters that await your soul. Jesus is here to help you find them.
Accompanying bible verse
AMP Version
Psalms 23:1-3
A Psalm of David.
1The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.
2
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
3
He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”
Still Volume 1 – A 5-day devotional by Glenn Packiam
Read day 3 of the devotional here