Calm and quiet....a rare thing today.

It seems the Lord has been trying to teach me what it means to focus even more on Him and worry less about the stresses of the world.  This morning was no exception.  Psalm 131:2 is another verse that echoes what I continue to find throughout my readings over the past several days. 

"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me."

Where do we find our contentment.  Sure it is easy to find contentment when things are going our way or there is no distractions in the way.  But how do we find contentment in today's rushed world with all the stresses that can continually come our way by the dozens?  Re-read the verse again.  Notice that our calmness and quiet moments do not come from just stopping everything and sitting down, but there is another important element that will help us to focus our mind to be calm and quiet as well.  Our children of course are both old enough that they have been weaned for several years, but even when they are restless or overwhelmed in their little minds, the presence of having their mother their often calms their fears and quiets their minds.   Yes, they still act like children, but their is a peace they have in knowing mommy is their.  The same is true for those of us who are believers.  Simply having the presence of God, even when we do not have all the answers to all the questions in our life, will calm and quiet our souls.  Yet there is a predicament here we often put ourselves in because we WANT more than simply God's presence.  We want all the things that may come along with knowing God.  But those things are not necessarily promised, the only thing(s) that are promised is grace and peace in the good times and in the rushed and crazy times.  As long as we remain in the presence of God that is and should be more than enough to calm our fears and quiet our souls from the stresses of this world.  The problem often comes when we not the Lord move out of that presence.  Today as the snow falls outside may we take the time to calm our souls and quiet ourselves in the presence of God.  

Running rampid...or Psalm 39

Most days I try (key word try) to read through 5 Psalms along with my other readings.  The Psalms are filled with deep truths covered in praise and adoration to the Lord.  With that being said, I was reading this morning in Psalm 39 and verse 6:

"Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.  Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain, gathering possessions without knowing who will get them."

If it stopped there that would be enough to show the reality we all live in today, a rushed and hurried society with little time for God or His Word.  Instead, we want want want without any regard for the will of God in our lives.  But those who are believers can rest in the following verse (Psalm 39:7):

"Now, Lord what do I wait for? My hope is in You."

Why not take today and fellowship with our Lord and Savior, in fact why not take every day and stop for just a few minutes in our rushed society and fellowship with Him, He longs to come and dine with us, all we have to do is open the door.  As Psalm 39 says several times, we are but a vapor.  Life is short so live it for the Glory of God, and if that means stopping to re-focus on Him then take the time, because truly He is our Hope!