Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Soul Rest” for Monday, 10 November 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 62:1-8

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional “Soul Rest” for Monday, 10 November 2014 - Scripture: Psalm 62: A David Psalm
1-2 God, the one and only—
    I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
    so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
    breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
    I’m set for life.
3-4 How long will you gang up on me?
    How long will you run with the bullies?
There’s nothing to you, any of you—
    rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,
Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,
    far gone in make-believe.
You talk a good line,
    but every “blessing” breathes a curse.
5-6 God, the one and only—
    I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I hope for comes from him,
    so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
    breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
    I’m set for life.
7-8 My help and glory are in God
    —granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
So trust him absolutely, people;
    lay your lives on the line for him.
    God is a safe place to be.
The psalmist wrote, “Truly my soul finds rest in God.”(Psalm 62:1 (NIV))
When I was in the Marines, I was required to carry heavy equipment or supplies strapped to my back. I remember distinctly the feeling of lightness and relief when I was allowed to lay that burden down. Suddenly, I felt light as a feather.
We carry through this world two types of burdens: physical and spiritual. Physical burdens weigh us down, sap our strength, and weary our bodies. Spiritual burdens — worries, fears, sorrows — weigh us down mentally and emotionally. Psalm 62:8 points the way for us to lay down our spiritual burdens and find rest for our souls.
How do we enter into the soul’s rest that the psalmist writes about? Through our relationship with God. By trusting in God and pouring out our hearts to God in prayer, we find comfort, peace of mind, and freedom from fear and worry. Then we lay our burdens down and go on our way, lightened, refreshed, and encouraged.
Remember: God already knows what is in our hearts, so we are not informing the Lord of our cares and burdens when we seek God in prayer. We are laying our burdens upon the Lord so that we no longer need to carry them ourselves.
The Author: DeVonna R. Allison (Michigan, USA)
Thought for the Day: God invites us to lay down our burdens.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to take full advantage of your offer of rest for our souls; remind us that when we rest in your strength, nothing can shake us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Military veterans
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