The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "FINDING REST" for Monday, 13 June 2016 with Scripture Psalm 62:1 (0) For the leader. Set in the style of Y’dutun. A psalm of David:2 (1) My soul waits in silence for God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
3 (2) He alone is my rock and salvation,
my stronghold; I won’t be greatly moved.
4 (3) How long will you assail a person
in order to murder him, all of you,
as if he were a sagging wall
or a shaky fence?
5 (4) They only want to shake him from his height,
they take delight in lying —
with their mouths they bless,
but inwardly they curse. (Selah)
6 (5) My soul, wait in silence for God alone,
because my hope comes from him.
7 (6) He alone is my rock and salvation,
my stronghold; I won’t be moved.
8 (7) My safety and honor rest on God.
My strong rock and refuge are in God.
9 (8) Trust in him, people, at all times;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. (Selah)
10 (9) Ordinary folks are merely a breath
and important people a sham;
if you lay them on a balance-scale, they go up —
both together are lighter than nothing.
11 (10) Don’t put your trust in extortion,
don’t put false hopes in robbery;
even if wealth increases,
don’t set your heart on it.
12 (11) God has spoken once, I have heard it twice:
strength belongs to God.
13 (12) Also to you, Adonai, belongs grace;
for you reward all as their deeds deserve.
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Often I would find myself overstressed and running on fumes — and ending up exhausted and grumpy. My to-do list would grow longer every day, and I longed to escape to some deserted island. Then, one exhausting day, I heard God speaking to my churning mind with words from Psalm 62: “My soul finds rest in God alone.” How I longed for this rest! And I knew that this kind of soul-satisfying rest comes only from God.
As a way of seeking this rest, I began taking 15 to 20 minutes during a busy day to slow down and be alone with God. The time and the location varied. Sometimes, I took a walk or found a quiet place to sit. I would talk with God about the pressures in that day. One afternoon, I wondered, Why does God let human beings get tired? I thought that God could have created us so that we are perpetually energized, never exhausted. And then I realized that tiredness may be Jesus’ calling us to himself. At these times, like a tuckered-out child, I need to snuggle into the lap of Jesus and hear him say, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” or “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28).
The Author: Dave Beckwith (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: Taking time to rest with God each day can renew and refresh me.
Prayer: Creator God, thank you for giving us rest in you. We come, weary and tired, to find strength in your presence. Renew us and sustain us with your love. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE OVERWHELMED BY STRESS
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