Reading a wonderful Psalm this morning, Psalm 31:14-24.
My times are in your hands...
v16 Let your face shine on your servant,
save me in your unfailing love.
Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
for I have cried out to you;
v19 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.
Praise be to the Lord,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
In my alarm I said,
" I am cut off from your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord."
This psalm really encouraged me as I was pondering at the time how we tend to 'strive' all our days to be and to do...., what we believe we should be doing, whether it's a vision we are aiming at, an ideal that we are trying to live up to, a standard that the world determines what may be successful or fruitful. And so our days end up in some form even if just a little, 'driven'.
However the Lord was showing me that to 'rest' in Him, away from striving or being driven, is to enter into that complete knowledge that I am successful in Him as I follow his commands, that I am completely where He wants me to be, doing exactly what he wants me to be doing and that nothing else is required of me. And when it is, He will show me, He will lead me and He will guide me. When I seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these 'other' things will be added, but first and foremost is to seek His Kingdom, His righteousness and in so doing I can rest that I am where I am supposed to be, successful and fruitful in everything I do in Christ.
1 Tim 6:6
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
As I learn to 'rest' in Him on a daily basis, trusting that my days, my times are in his hands, I find that peace and contentment that my soul knows very well come to take root in my life once again, as other things find themselves being uprooted with truth that sets me free, for example; anxiety, worry, stress, concern, questioning, doubt, what other people think etc. If I know that I am seeking Him, then I can rest that I am right where He wants me to be doing exactly what He has for me today, not worrying about tomorrow. 😀