selah.

I've been thinking alot about rest lately. I tend to be the one who volunteers for everything [meaning well], and afterwards I end up burnt out and exhausted. I really don't think that's the abundant life the Lord wants for us! I spent a few hours today reading a great book called "On Being a Missionary," by Thomas Hale. There was a lengthy chapter on stress and burnout, during which I found myself often nodding in agreement. We must be found abiding in the Lord, and use our God-given common sense to know when we need to say no and take the time to rest and just sit at His feet. [Why else would the Word talk so much about taking a day of rest, and call it the Lord's day??]

For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: 

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." 

But you would not, and you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" --

Therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses" -- Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!

One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee,

Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill. [burnout, right?]

Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; 

and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. 

For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.

- Isaiah 30:15-18

In class on Wednesday night we studied some verses in the Psalms that all had a common theme: meditating on the Lord/His Word, dwelling in His courts, and the Hebrew word Selah- taking a pause to reflect or be still. Even as I was teaching through each part, I knew the Lord was trying to teach me too. One of the greatest joys of teaching is having to understand the subject matter well enough to explain it simply and succinctly. This is a lesson the Lord has been working on teaching me for a long time, being of a rather impatient nature: the importance of being still before Him, and calming down enough to really just enjoy His presence. It's so easy to get busy, and come to the Lord only to demand answers to current problems in my life; but that isn't true fellowship with Him! As we remember who He is [His character] and what He's done [His works], the biggest problems in life suddenly seem to shrink. Let us be found abiding in Him, dwelling in His courts, meditating on and being filled with His Word, and being led by His Spirit. Let's take time to Selah in His presence. For in His presence is abundant blessing, eternal life, and fullness of joy.

love,a.