How Worship Centers and Then Sends Us Amid Life’s Turmoil
"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore." Ps. 131:2-3
There is a kind of rest that is needed deep in our souls. More than ever, we tend to seek solitude from the storms of life that present themselves, both near and far. But it's not found where I thought it might be.
Many things have been spinning through my mind and my heart these past days: newborn grand-twins still in ICU; two upcoming conferences and much travel this week; and resolving relational discord between parties within our faith family, to name a few. So, today was a day off and a chance step away from all of that to do some physical yard work that's been hanging over me and push back the other stresses from my psyche for a time.
Expecting a great day, I woke up to a torrential downpour! "Still," I told myself, "I'll go get the rental trailer and..." an epic fail ensued as the vendor's wiring was not working - after spending an hour in the rain hitching up, unhitching, etc.! It's the kind of upset to a schedule that causes the aggravation that takes my eyes off God's grace and mercy. My escape into my private tasks did not present the kind of peace I truly need!
So, in a huff I came home, made a cup of tea, and decided maybe, now that I had no pressing tasks, I should take the quiet time with God I pushed off in my hurry to get my mission accomplished! As it would happen, today's reading was brief - Psalm 131, with its encouragement to 'calm and quiet my soul'. But even in its brevity I found immense wisdom for the journey... Continue reading on the Worship Leader Institute site >