Van Walton
"O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me." Psalm 131:1 (NASB)
I watched the young mother deftly work in her kitchen, amazed at all she could accomplish with one hand. In her left arm she tenderly cradled her little one. With her right hand, elbow, shoulder and hip she opened drawers and shut doors; she pulled out cups, saucers, and spoons; she scooped coffee and poured water.
While Juan Valdez's aroma filled the air, she gathered pastries from her pantry and other refreshments from her refrigerator. When silence replaced conversation, she hummed a quiet melody into her baby's ear. Finally we sat down to enjoy our mid-day visit and I realized her tiny infant had slept through it all, mindless of the constant noise and swirling activity.
Oh, to rest in such peace while all around me chaos reigns. What secret lay hidden in that little heart?
The chapter which contains today's key verse offers the answer- such a short and simple Psalm, yet it says it all, "Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother..." (NASB).
I long for an escape from life's challenges. Sometimes the force and frequency with which my trials torment me threaten to undue me.
I've been tested and tried this year to the point that I thought, "If the barrage doesn't let up, I am a goner." I held up my hand in the stop position and screamed out to God, "No more! Have mercy. I'm undone! How am I supposed to juggle all this?"
In that instant God whispered, "Like a child rests against his mother, quiet your soul."
Then the Master Artist sketched for me the picture I described earlier. His reminder recalled a young mother tenderly and safely holding her baby, while all around, life's responsibilities increasingly swelled.
Sweet friend, do you feel like you are losing your footing? Are you struggling to conquer the chaos? If you are like me you are on the brink, throwing up your hands and screaming, "I give up!"
That's good! Give up.
Yes, that is what I said.
Give up and like a child in her mother's arms, trust and rest.
Some matters are too complicated for us to figure out. Let God open and close the doors. Believe that He will prepare and provide. He created you, His precious child. He is protecting you in the crook of His strong right arm.
Father God, Your Word assures me that You are a strong shelter. You don't give me more than I can endure. Out of obedience I believe You and rest. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
From the Pound to the Palace Children’s Book or Story on DVD by Van Walton
You are My Hiding Place, Lord: Finding Peace in God's Presence by Emilie Barnes
An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears by Micca Campbell
Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear by Max Lucado
We’d be honored to walk alongside you throughout your day. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.
Application Steps:
Purposefully plan thirty minutes into each day with a goal to sit quietly. Begin this time speaking to the Father, "Like a child I rest in You. I trust You to take the matters to great for me and place them under Your authority."
If needed, repeat the above-mentioned prayer until your soul is "composed and quieted."
Reflections:
What areas of my life are too great for me?
What steps can I take to shed the burdens of my difficulties?
Who can I ask to pray with me and hold me accountable to give my burdens to God?
Power Verses:
Psalm 32:7, "For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory." (NLV)
Psalm 131:2-3, "Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever." (NASB)
1 Corinthians 10:13, "…you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it." (NCV)
© 2010 by Van Walton. All rights reserved.
"O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me." Psalm 131:1 (NASB)
I watched the young mother deftly work in her kitchen, amazed at all she could accomplish with one hand. In her left arm she tenderly cradled her little one. With her right hand, elbow, shoulder and hip she opened drawers and shut doors; she pulled out cups, saucers, and spoons; she scooped coffee and poured water.
While Juan Valdez's aroma filled the air, she gathered pastries from her pantry and other refreshments from her refrigerator. When silence replaced conversation, she hummed a quiet melody into her baby's ear. Finally we sat down to enjoy our mid-day visit and I realized her tiny infant had slept through it all, mindless of the constant noise and swirling activity.
Oh, to rest in such peace while all around me chaos reigns. What secret lay hidden in that little heart?
The chapter which contains today's key verse offers the answer- such a short and simple Psalm, yet it says it all, "Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother..." (NASB).
I long for an escape from life's challenges. Sometimes the force and frequency with which my trials torment me threaten to undue me.
I've been tested and tried this year to the point that I thought, "If the barrage doesn't let up, I am a goner." I held up my hand in the stop position and screamed out to God, "No more! Have mercy. I'm undone! How am I supposed to juggle all this?"
In that instant God whispered, "Like a child rests against his mother, quiet your soul."
Then the Master Artist sketched for me the picture I described earlier. His reminder recalled a young mother tenderly and safely holding her baby, while all around, life's responsibilities increasingly swelled.
Sweet friend, do you feel like you are losing your footing? Are you struggling to conquer the chaos? If you are like me you are on the brink, throwing up your hands and screaming, "I give up!"
That's good! Give up.
Yes, that is what I said.
Give up and like a child in her mother's arms, trust and rest.
Some matters are too complicated for us to figure out. Let God open and close the doors. Believe that He will prepare and provide. He created you, His precious child. He is protecting you in the crook of His strong right arm.
Father God, Your Word assures me that You are a strong shelter. You don't give me more than I can endure. Out of obedience I believe You and rest. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
From the Pound to the Palace Children’s Book or Story on DVD by Van Walton
You are My Hiding Place, Lord: Finding Peace in God's Presence by Emilie Barnes
An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears by Micca Campbell
Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear by Max Lucado
We’d be honored to walk alongside you throughout your day. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Application Steps:
Purposefully plan thirty minutes into each day with a goal to sit quietly. Begin this time speaking to the Father, "Like a child I rest in You. I trust You to take the matters to great for me and place them under Your authority."
If needed, repeat the above-mentioned prayer until your soul is "composed and quieted."
Reflections:
What areas of my life are too great for me?
What steps can I take to shed the burdens of my difficulties?
Who can I ask to pray with me and hold me accountable to give my burdens to God?
Power Verses:
Psalm 32:7, "For You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory." (NLV)
Psalm 131:2-3, "Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forever." (NASB)
1 Corinthians 10:13, "…you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it." (NCV)
© 2010 by Van Walton. All rights reserved.
Labels: Balance, Confidence, Identity in Christ, Overcoming, Overcoming Fear, Perseverance, Spiritual Growth, Time with God, Trusting God, Waiting On God
11 Comments:
How comforting! I often think of God as holding me in the palm of His hand -- a sovereign protective fortress against the outside world. How glorious to think of our Heavenly Father as cradling us in His arm and embracing us with love. Thank you!
I am losing ground. I was married for 19 years and a year ago I found my husband cheating. He left me nd my daughter for the other woman. His family who I love dearly no longer want to be in life because I went and got full custody of our daughter. In the past year my life has crumbled along with losing my husband I also lost 4 peolpe that past a way some famliy and other a friend. I have surgery. Lost my job because of all the stress in my life. Moved in July and found out that I need back surgery. My daughter still has to visit her dad and they have a horrible realtionship and she is afraid to stay the night with him. And inthe summer he gets her the ENTIRE month of July. So am so lost and I can't take it anymore. Looking a back surgery in Dec and my daughter has to go with her dad on christmas. Please pray for me and Josephine.
I am losing ground. I was married for 19 years and a year ago I found my husband cheating. He left me nd my daughter for the other woman. His family who I love dearly no longer want to be in life because I went and got full custody of our daughter. In the past year my life has crumbled along with losing my husband I also lost 4 peolpe that past a way some famliy and other a friend. I have surgery. Lost my job because of all the stress in my life. Moved in July and found out that I need back surgery. My daughter still has to visit her dad and they have a horrible realtionship and she is afraid to stay the night with him. And inthe summer he gets her the ENTIRE month of July. So am so lost and I can't take it anymore. Looking a back surgery in Dec and my daughter has to go with her dad on christmas. Please pray for me and Josephine.
to anonymous-I pray that u begin by laying all ur problems @ the feet of our Lord & then u "crawl up in His lap" & let Him rock u until u feel his peace surround u like a warm blanket.
Just last night I told God I was done. My husband has been sick for 4 yrs and hasn't worked for two. Because of his age disability was denied. We hired an attorney, had a hearing, and 45 days later still no word from the judge. He can't work, he has to has surgery, but we can't pay for it, only my income. We have huge medical bills at times, one hospital called the other day wanting money, that was the straw that broke me. That's when I literally said to God, I'm done. And here we are the next day with this devotion. Think God is trying to tell me something? HMMMMMMM???????
Thank you Van. Your devotion truly blessed me today. It was exactly what my heart needed to hear.
Love you!
LeAnn
This message was written for me today. I have been trying to balance everything in my life. A son's illness, another son's choices, a daughter's resentment, work, committments. I feel as though I have let down God. I promise to trust his soveignty, but I do not like to turn loose control. God promises to meet our needs, no matter what! He promises to protect us, no matter what! He has yet to promise me perfection in this life and He won't. He does promise me a place to rest. He promises to carry my burdens. I know it is up to me to lay them down. My will can be strong. I need to learn the humility required to rest in the Father.
I will pray now for the others writing on this page who are facing enormous trials. God will continue to hold us all! Let us all feel His gift of grace and peace!
Thank you for this today, Van. As always, God knows our needs and puts people in our lives at just the right time to remind us that He is there. Life is tough but God is tougher.
Oh the peace of God, a soothing balm. Why is it I struggle on my own? This humanity is so limiting... to see this glimpse of heaven, only a taste of what glory will be!
Praise God He is mindful of what I am, and I thank Him for his mercies so freely given anew every morning! Wash me in your healing power. Give me patience to live this life, until you call me home.
Father, the heart cries on this page are nothing that surprises you, for you saw this day coming before I was even born! You prepared the way for me... but in my human frailty I failed to grasp your hand and chose to go it alone.
Please forgive my failures, thank you for your unending love and patience. You are the God I love!
To Anonymous & Josephine
I wish I can do more for you than just writing words here... I feel for you.
Since I can't do much, I'm asking God to intervene.
Daddy God,
Please remember & have mercy on these previous daughters of yours. The bundle is too heavy & complicated to handle. Let them know that you Are with them now. Your grace & love is gonna carry them through, and You will not allow more than what they can bear. The devils flee at your name and I ask for your presence to fill their home & hearts.
Please Lord, shine in their lives. Use these lives to touch many others. May they be your hands and feet.
In Jesus's powerful name we pray,
Amen.
Love
Ruth
Singapore
Dear Precious Ones who took the time to leave a comment here. I am on my knees before the Father asking Him to pour out his mercies on my broken sisters. I know He longs to comfort us in our struggles. I ask him to guide you toward one person who can be your eveery day prayer warrior, who can come close beside you to pray with you and bring you God's perspective on life. Please find a strong women's ministry in your area and get involved in a Bible study or prayer group. Meanwhile know that I am praying for you.
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