The 7 Wonders of Psalm 23: Part Three

This is the third post in my series on the 7 wonders of Psalm 23. I pray this Psalm has blessed you as much as it has me.
To see the first post click here

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters Psalm 23:2

Green pastures…quiet waters.
A picture of a peaceful time with God.

Peaceful time?? How do we ever find a peaceful time in our hectic days?

Look at the first few words in this verse:

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Make is the operative word here, friends.

And I can tell you from personal experience: If you don’t set aside a peaceful time with God, He will MAKE you.

When my girls were little, I foolishly decided that was a good time to graduate school. Needed my head examined, right?

So, there I was, spending my days as the mother of two preschool girls.

And my nights, (you know, when you supposed to sleep) pouring over books.

Time with my husband fit in there somewhere. And, in between yawns, I prepared to teach on Sunday mornings.

If God was telling me to slow down, I couldn't hear Him over the noise of train barreling down the tracks.

Then it happened: I had a seizure.

During the hours in the emergency room, God said, loud and clear.

“I am making you lie down!”

While the doctors tried to stabilize my medicines, I couldn't drive.
College went on the back burner.
I became a stay-at-home Mom – literally.

My home became a green pasture, although it took me a while to realize it.

God did His part – now I had to do mine.

He leads me beside still waters.

The word “lead” implies there is a follower.

That is where the choice comes in.

Would I allow Him to lead me beside still waters?

Would I follow Him into the peace and beauty of a deeper relationship with Him?

To be truthful, I griped and complained, and asked Him why He was doing this to me.

I refused to be quiet enough to hear the Living Water call me to follow Him along still waters.

Time went on. They couldn't get me stable so I kept having seizures. The time I couldn't drive stretched into a seemingly endless train of months.

Finally, when I ran out of pity-party words to say, I turned to God and asked, “What are you trying to teach me?”

He brought the words into my mind:

Green pastures.

Still waters.

Imagine lying down on the cool grass and smelling the scent of wildflowers.

Imagine listing to the quiet of still waters.

If this doesn't bring peace to your heart, you need CPR!

God asks us to spend just a few minutes letting our minds rest in His cool, beautiful presence.

He offers us sweet, quiet moments in His Word, soaking our hearts in His love and wisdom.

When I think about it, why does He have to MAKE me? Why don’t I crave that precious time?

He loves you beyond anything you can imagine.

He calls you to revel in His presence.

Choose Him and you will find peace and beauty.

How has God made you lie down?

Have you found the peace of green pastures and still waters?

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