Verse of the Day 12/2

Verse of  the Day 12/2

 

Psalm 116:7   Return, O my soul, to your rest;

    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

The Christmas season should be one of peace, we will hear several times over  the coming  weeks what  the  angels said, that Christ would bring  "peace on earth  and  good  will to men".  Yet, in spite of that encouragement  we may find  ourselves  restless, perhaps even losing  sleep over decisions to be made,  financial obligations  and  limitations, scheduling challenges and all types of other things that can occupy our  minds  and take  away our rest.  Sometimes we can talk ourselves out of it, realizing  that we need to "snap out of it".  But if in "snapping  out  of it" on  our own we  don't turn  to someone, or the  One  who  can truly help us, we'll inevitably find  ourselves in the position  once  again.

 

One  of  my favorite psalms to  go to  in those  times is Psalm  37 which tells  us three  times within a few short  verses – "do not  fret".  These words were written by kind David who  over  the course of his life of being  a shepherd then a king had plenty of  cause  to  "fret", but still,  he  writes:

 

Psalm 37:1-4  

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

If  we find  ourselves "fretting"  over the  coming weeks, may we be able to tell ourselves to snap out  of it  and  turn to Jesus for  the peace that only He can bring  and give.  A big part of  that is  realizing how much He has already blessed us, "bountifully" to the point  where our  joy should be overflowing.

 

If among  the hustle and  bustle  of  the season you  need  a  place of  quiet rest, comfort and peace, you'll only find  it as you  draw "Near  to the Heart of  God".

 

There is a place of quiet rest, 
near to the heart of God; 
a place where sin cannot molest, 
near to the heart of God. 
Refrain: 
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, 
sent from the heart of God, 
hold us who wait before thee 
near to the heart of God. 

2. There is a place of comfort sweet, 
near to the heart of God; 
a place where we our Savior meet, 
near to the heart of God.

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Psalm 116:5-9New Living Translation (NLT)

 

5 How kind the Lord is! How good he is!

    So merciful, this God of ours!

6 The Lord protects those of childlike faith;

    I was facing death, and he saved me.

7 Let my soul be at rest again,

    for the Lord has been good to me.

8 He has saved me from death,

    my eyes from tears,

    my feet from stumbling.

9 And so I walk in the Lord's presence

    as I live here on earth!

 

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