For the Lord has told me this: “I will watch quietly from my dwelling place- as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day, or as the morning dew forms during the harvest.”
Isaiah 18:4
It’s hard to believe another summer is upon us, yet sunny days and warmer nights beckon us to change things up, get outside, and enjoy life in new, exciting ways! It is also time to step out of our shoes and slip on a pair of sandals, open that great book that’s been on the shelf too long, and find a shady spot to stretch out in.
Is it possible to find time to rest and unwind in our busy schedules? Perhaps the more challenging question is this: Is it okay for us to relax and enjoy when so much needs to be accomplished?
The answer to both questions should be yes-most definitely yes! Not only is it alright to take care of ourselves in this way, but we also have the Lord beckoning us to do so. To help you consider this unique perspective, here are three recommended areas to contemplate adding to your calendar this summer:
Rest: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30, NLT
Jesus took time to rest and get away from the busyness of His life, and He also calls out to us to rest in Him. When we take time to relax, we will actually be more effective in our relationships and in our work.
Reflect: O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
Psalm 40:5
Summer is a perfect season to reflect on all that the Lord has done for you. When the sun rises each morning, thank Him for the miracles He has done for you throughout the years. As you move through your day, consider the blessings in your personal and professional life. And as the sun slowly sinks into the horizon, praise God for the things He helped you accomplish and the new life that awaits you tomorrow-whether you wake up here or in eternity!
Re-energize But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one…as for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
II Thessalonians 3:3, 13
With all of the craziness in our world, it’s easy to get down and discouraged. Yet as we rest in the Lord, taking time to reflect on the truths in His Word, He will strengthen us for the journey that lies ahead. We need to do our part too, which includes not letting people or circumstances distract us from our real mission: to glorify the Lord in all that we do!
These are some of the thoughts I wrote in Summer under the Son: Daily Devotions to Bring Light into Your Life. My prayer is that you will make time to rest, reflect, and get re-energized this summer-enjoying all of the blessings the Lord provides each and every day!
Thought for this Summer
Let my soul be at rest again,
for the Lord has been good to me.
Psalm 116:7
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
Every summer since childhood I’ve attended a local county fair that comes to our community. Although many of the attractions are virtually the same from year to year, I love to walk down the midway, snacking on gastronomical delights that I’d never dream of eating on a regular basis. From Tasty Chips to fried avocado (isn’t everything better when deep-fried?), I turn into a full-on foodie at the fair.
Yet there is one part of this summertime event that I’ve never liked: the funhouses which are tucked back with the carnival rides. There’s something strange about them, including the odd-shaped mirrors that make people look tweaked, twisted, and sometimes completely deformed. And after hours of indulging in fair food, I certainly don’t want to see my wide-angled reflection!
To me, there is nothing “fun” about the funhouse-but if I was completely honest, how many times do I view myself in a contorted fashion instead of thinking about how my heavenly Father sees me? The answer is way too many times throughout my daily life. Perhaps you can relate to this scenario too. Most of us find it easier to focus on our flaws than on the fact that we’re the fabulous creations of an amazing Designer. From wrinkles to weight gain to woes about our choices, we find many aspects of our lives that we think are unattractive or downright ugly.
This viewpoint must change if we truly want to experience the perfect love that the Lord has planned for us this side of Heaven. In Luke 10, Jesus clearly points out that we must learn to love God, and then our neighbors as ourselves. Actually, He emphatically concludes His thoughts with this statement: “Do this and you will live!” (verse 28). To love God’s way means we must honor His creation-and this includes how we embrace who He has made us to be. *
*Taken from Sonkist Ministries’ upcoming release, I Choose Love!
Thought of the Month
For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These-and other such commandments-are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 13:9
After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
I Kings 19:11b-12 (NLT)
The specialty juice shop hummed with activity as I entered. Lots of people had the same idea I did that hot day: get something cold to drink-fast! As I waited in line, more men, women, and children came into the store, which added to the increasing noise level as blenders began whisking drinks for the thirsty clientele. By the time I reached the clerk, I could barely catch his questions. He began shouting to be heard over the ruckus, and I had to really raise my voice in order for him to hear me too.
This ordeal reminded me of how much “noise” I have in my life-and how sometimes it’s hard to listen to what the Lord might be saying to me because of it. Music, television, and messages left on my voicemail system are among some of the usual distractions. There are people who need my attention throughout the day, from home to work-and all points in between. And even though I got up early this morning for a little devotional time and a chance to do some writing, I could hear the hum of the freeway in the distance, a lawn mower grinding in the neighbor’s yard, and my dogs barking incessantly at something (no doubt the mower wasn’t making them happy either).
So how can you and I find ways to hear what God may be trying to tell us in an often distracting world? Well, let’s take a look at the lessons we can learn from Elijah’s interactions with the Lord in this story from I Kings:
So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai the mountain of God. There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” (verses 8-10)
Because of the difficult circumstances Elijah found himself in, he got away and cried out to the Lord. In this conversation, he wasn’t afraid to tell God how he felt-alone and afraid despite all his efforts to serve the Lord. Even though he might have been sidetracked by the wind, earthquake, and fire, Elijah kept alert for the still, small voice that followed that commotion. Let’s see what happened as this story unfolded:
And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied again, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came . . .” (verses 13-15a)
Notice how Elijah virtually repeated his answer to God. He wasn’t afraid to talk honestly with his heavenly Father, and that’s when he finally received the clear message about what to do next. And guess what? That’s exactly what Elijah did: “So Elijah went . . .” (verse 19a).
Here are a few lessons we can take away from this story about someone who loved and served God, yet felt dejected, lonely, and even frightened in the world he found himself in:
- Get away from the “noise” each day so you can spend time with God uninterrupted.
- Don’t be afraid to pray and tell the Lord exactly how you’re feeling.
- Listen for how He may be speaking to you-in the quiet, or even in the rumble of a crowd.
- When you feel He is moving you a certain direction, then move!
Our lives are always going to be busy, so it’s up to us to make time to hear from the Lord. We need Him when things get rough, as they did for Elijah-but we also need His assistance as we move through each and every day. Look for signs of His presence, and, most importantly, keep the communication lines between the two of you open so you can truly hear what He has to say.
Thought of the Month
Unless the Lord had helped me,
I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.
I cried out, “I am slipping!”
but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.
When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalm 94:17-19
If you’re like me, you may have caught part of this year’s Grammy Award show. I have to admit, I was shocked by the opening number! No, it wasn’t because of outrageous outfits. My horror had nothing to do with raunchy comments or bleeped words. Instead, the dismay was due to the fact that the entire audience stood and sang right along with the band, AC/DC, as they performed their famous rock song Highway to Hell!
That’s right, hundreds of the people present clapped, bobbed their heads, and chanted these words verbatim:
I’m on the highway to hell
on the highway to hell
highway to hell
I’m on the highway to hell
For many who’ve listened to the tune for decades, it may have simply represented youthful rebellion of rules and society’s restrictions. But if you look at the rest of the lyrics, you’ll find ideas that are far more frightening:
No stop signs, speed limit
Nobody’s gonna slow me down
Like a wheel, gonna spin it
Nobody’s gonna mess me round
Hey satan, payed my dues
Playing in a rocking band
Hey momma, look at me
I’m on my way to the promised land
As I read these words, I wondered if the audience members that night had any clue what they were clapping about and nodding their approval to. Did they really want to have Satan greeting them in that kind of “promised land” one day? Were they in agreement with the rock band’s final phrase “And I’m going down, all the way down. I’m on the highway to hell?” Scary stuff!
This is yet another reason why I’m so thankful God has led me on a different path-His Highway to Heaven! And I am much more interested in following His ideas on how to live than ever before. In fact, the Lord gives us basic instructions in His Word for what this kind of pathway looks like:
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.
Proverbs 16:17 (NASB)
God’s highway may not be very popular in modern society, but at least we know where it ends! Heaven is the final destination for His followers when this life is over, and the Lord is the One who will welcome us into an eternity spent peacefully in His presence simply because we accepted His gift of salvation.
I love the imagery given in the Old Testament of the result of faithfully following God:
And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it.
Isaiah 35:8-9 (NLT)
Friends, we’re living in times when many around us are totally oblivious to the two pathways that are before them: following God, or not. Let’s pray for those yet-to-be-saved on a daily basis, and may we look for opportunities to share about the life He has given us-and the even better life that awaits us one day soon!
Thought of the Month
Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
They will enter Jerusalem singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.
Isiah 35:10
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1-3 (New American Standard Bible)
The verses above are from a passage that’s a favorite for many. Like me, you may have memorized this psalm as a child, or perhaps you’ve simply read it so many times you know it by heart. Yet despite all the review I’ve done of this famous psalm of David, I often find myself getting stuck right after the acknowledgement, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Yes, I believe that sincerely: Jesus is my Lord, my Savior-He is everything to me. But, I still find myself “wanting.”
Now I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with wanting things. Actually, I believe one of the most wonderful aspects of being human is our God-given desire to strive and achieve. These drives cause us to wake up each morning to try to make a difference in our world. They encourage us to be creative, take chances, and make changes in our lives. Yet these endeavors are truly most enjoyable when we are also able to take time to appreciate what we have accomplished. In other words, there must be a balance between wanting to do more and constantly being stuck in a state of wanting.
This is when the “quiet water” moments of our lives become essential. David talked about taking time to rest and relax-realizing that “rest” is a chance to literally be restored by the Lord. These restful times allow us to reflect on our blessings, appreciate where we’ve been, and even dream about where we may be going. And then when it’s time for the journey of life to resume again, that too becomes an opportunity to be led by God in ways that will not only be productive but will also please Him.
For me, this process has boiled down to one word: contentment. Can I be comfortable with my life just as it is? Can I be okay with what I’m doing, what I have, and where the Lord is leading me? This kind of satisfaction allows me to rest in each moment of every day, even during times like these:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
(Psalm 23:4-5)
Now that’s putting contentment to the ultimate test! Can you and I be content when things get tough? When we’re in a down season, a dark place, or even dealing with evil-can we be satisfied with the situation God has placed us in? I don’t know about you, but I want to be like King David who exclaimed with confidence, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need” (New Living Translation).
Discovering this state of contentment should be part of our spiritual journey. It’s not easy to find, but once we reach that place, our perspective will change. Sure, we’ll still want to achieve great things for the Lord, but we’ll be satisfied in the process of getting there too. We will have lots of hopes and dreams, but our daily duties will be just as gratifying because we’re pleased with where God has us right now. And this is when all we really “want” will be whatever He has to offer.
Thought of the Month
Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:6
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