Pause: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

                                                Pause

                                                To pause and listen

                                                for the quiet

                                                in the storm of

                                                busyness and commitments

                                                breath deeply.

                                                To hear direction

                                                focus on purpose

                                                instill calm

                                                brought from a courage to

                                                be committed to trust.

Psalm 18:36, “Thou dost enlarge my steps under Thee, And my feet have not slipped.”

Reflection: Rest: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. In what ways can busyness control our goals instead of silence?

2. Even in silence what can intrude on our hearing the Lord’s call?

3. How can we prepare daily—hourly—to pause and listen?

4.  What steps need courage?

Share: Which will you try to practice this week?

Rest: Purpose: Prayers and Poetry

Philippians 3: 13-14,”Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Rest

How often do we still look only at the difficulties and obstacles instead of trusting in the Lord’s ongoing protection?

We still hesitate at every decision, not only to examine it, but to calm our fears. When instead our focus should be only bringing it to the Lord for confirmation that we are hearing His voice and purpose to go ahead.

Thankfully, no matter how often though we stumble and fall because of our fears and disbelief, He continues to keep our feet from falling and steadies us. And picks us up when we do stumble.

Lord, please open our hearts and sight and souls to look upward and forward to You. Please show each of us the next steps we are to take. In confidence in You.

Your thoughts,

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 23:20, Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

Angel of the Lord

sent before us

serving us,

companied by invisible

glory

we walk not alone.

Emissaries sent to guard

us. As a circle

in our midst.

Repel all dangers,

we can rest.

Along the route

prepared beforehand

we follow all the way.

Keeping watch, placing footsteps

on marked ground.

we travel.

Expectant destination.

Place to witness,

place to expand.

Like a dream beckons goals

we stretch.

Anchor promises,

generosity anticipated

by love.

Fashioned by His wisdom

seeking best

we come.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 34:7

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,

And rescues them.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 23:12, Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor…

Cease from labor for the purpose of rest. Rest for the animals, the servants, the strangers. Rest for the fields, the vineyards, the olive groves on the seventh year. Cycle for replenishment, cycle for rejuvenation.

Lie fallow. Our restless natures rebel. Idleness nurtures sluggards and boredom; we reply, “Times a wasting.”

Labor taxes our strength, depletes our resources. Without restoration eventually we run dry. The rest God calls for allows for continued supply. A dormant state where seed can stretch deep roots. A solitude where energy re-charges.

Cadence of silence. Can we hear it beneath the busyness of our lives, the noise of our leisure, the fear of quiet?

Even when I rest physically my mind retains a cacophony, unable to dis-engage. Lord I ask for Your quiet to settle into all parts of me; to cease labor, to be still before You. Remove my fear of silence. Replace the uneasy stillness with soundless communion with You, deepening my roots in Your word and Your Spirit.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 116:7

Return to your rest, O my soul,

For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.