Staying Committed

It is difficult, if not almost impossible, to walk away from a very good thing. People who find themselves in such situations, whether in a relationship, a career, or whatever else, usually cherish the experiences. Perhaps the relationships are the most fulfilling. To know and be known to the point where words seem unnecessary for communication; where the person we are with seem to know our thoughts and are able to complete our sentences. They feel our hurts even when we try to hide it from them; they are in tune with our feelings. All of this is mutual of course, for if the relationship is one-sided it is not much fun.

I like to think that as David reflected on the sheep-shepherd relationship, the "intimacy" was not lost on him. The shepherd knows the sheep and the sheep knows the shepherd. The shepherd gently leads his sheep over mountains and valleys, protecting them from all kinds of danger. He provides safe pastures for feeding and still waters for rest and refreshing. He takes care of the bruises that come with the journey, checking each sheep individually and pouring in the oil when needed. After a long day, he provides an overflowing cup from which each sheep drinks; not rationed amounts but enough until it is satisfied.

The sheep trust their shepherd. They "know" that he will do everything in his power to ensure their welfare. Despite the tendency to wander, they are never out of the shepherd's sight. Even if one goes astray, the shepherd will secure the others and go looking for the one that strayed. In today's parlance, they have it good. It is no wonder therefore, that David closes his psalm with the words, "And through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place" (Psalm 23:6b, The Amplified). Where else would he go? Who else could take care of him the way the LORD, his Shepherd, could and would? This was the same Psalmist who said in another place, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Psalm 16:11, KVJ).

Like David, we too can experience the richness and intimacy of our relationship with our Shepherd. It starts with trusting Him with the things that pertains to us; to abandon ourselves in absolute surrender to His care. It involves staying committed. That is not an easy thing to do because like sheep we do not always know what is best for us. But our Shepherd can be trusted. There is no one like Him and if we allow Him to, He will lead us home - safely.

The Silence Within

Occasionally, I love the sound of silence. Silence punctuated by the sound of running water, the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of birds is also just as good. Growing up in the bustling capital city of my island home didn't afford a lot of opportunities for outward silence and it took a tremendous amount of discipline to achieve inner silence. Left unchecked, the mind is like an elementary school playground during recess. We are always thinking, always planning, and being surrounded by a vast amount and array of stimulants, additional thoughts are constantly invading our already noisy mind.

It may come as a surprise to some that the mind needs true peace to calm down its unpredictable and never ending flow of thoughts and feelings. True peace is rest in the mind, and to compensate for the lack of it some people often try to create a false peace with alcohol, drugs, sex, or other addictions. Some have tried self-assurance, reachable expectations, and various forms of meditation. These provide very temporary moments of respite but no lasting peace. Of course, true peace can only be found in being in the will of God; it is a gift from God found only through Christ. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27). For the child of God to really settle his or her mind, the peace offered by the world is a poor substitute. We need the peace that only Christ can give.

To be in the will of God is to abide in the peace of God. When we are in His will there is no need to worry, doubt, or fear; these are the activities that often keep our minds busy. These are replaced by an unwavering faith in our God's ability to take care of the things that pertain to us. We can rest in His care. It is no wonder the Psalmist declares, "My soul waits in silence only for God; from Him comes my salvation" (Psalm 62:2); a salvation that includes his peace. Though life may be challenging and unpredictable, though our bodies be frail and pain is our companion, when it seems our minds are on the verge of being overwhelmed, by God's grace we can find stillness; we can find silence within. I am praying that for you.

Does Prayer Really Work?

 

If you are like most people, you have probably asked this question a number of times. For some of us, it seems like God is asleep on the job, so to speak, because the reality of our individual circumstances seem to shout at us ever so loudly. We are tested on every side; our relationships, health, job, finances, to name a few, and somewhere in the back of our minds is a nagging doubt as to whether God is paying attention or not. Can He really do anything, and if so, why doesn’t He?  

We could ask the same question as we look at the chaos that continues to take place in various parts of the world.  Following the national and international news is potentially depressing. No longer are we talking about rumours of war, we have more wars going on than most of us realize.  Earthquakes, tsunamis, famines, droughts, terror attacks to name a few, are the order of the day.  Where is God? Didn't He promise, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14, KJV)?  If the world was a corporation of which God was the CEO, the board of that corporation would probably consider replacing Him for failing to deliver what He promised.  

The Bible is the only resource we have that speaks of God’s ability and integrity. It is His Word and we are told that He cannot lie. In Numbers 23:18 we read, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” Those are serious questions we need to ponder. Whatever God said, He will do, and whatever He has spoken, He shall make good. That’s about as solid an assurance of God’s ability and integrity that one could get. The interesting thing is that Jesus prayed, and therefore there must have been no doubt in His mind that prayer does make a difference; it works.

We can rest assured that God is not indifferent to the things that are important to us (1 Peter 5:7). Persistent prayer works, and though the answers we seek may not be immediately realized, it does not mean that God is not working on our behalf. Don’t give in to discouragement; He is faithful to them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations (Deut. 7:9). PUSH through; keep on Praying Until Something Happens.