“He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul.”

Psalm 23:2-3a

Timothy Keller once wrote, “You don’t go to God because He’s useful, you go because He’s beautiful. And nothing is more useful than finding God beautiful.”

How difficult it is to be still and silent. Even when we are stumbling and exhausted – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – we find it difficult, if only for a short time, to visit that place of quiet rest.

God’s green pastures, not only offer us rest and restoration, they offer us a revelation of His beauty! And once “our eyes see the King in His beauty” (Isaiah 33:17), our lives begin to accumulate the effects of His grace.

God created a place for us to rest and that place is in His presence, basking in the light of His pastures and gazing at the glistening streams. It is here that we find perfect love. It is here that we find perfect peace. It is here that we find restoration and redemption. It is here that the goodness of our Creator is seen in all His Glory.

God knows that we need to rest in the arms of Jesus for our souls to be nurtured and rejuvenated. In Exodus 20:8, God instructs us to take a whole day for rest and worship. And in Mark 6:31, Jesus sweeps His disciples away to rest for just a little while.

We can’t experience the true power and beauty of God when our focus is constant movement and noise. We must take time to actively seek Him in quiet and still places. It may mean getting up 15 minutes early and leaving your phone on the nightstand. Or running that next errand with the blue tooth turned off. It could be planning a quiet and secluded break during the day at work. Or just sitting in the backyard instead of watching that series on Netflix.

Whatever you choose to do, whether it’s a whole day or just a few minutes, I hope that you find time for all God has prepared for you. He wants you to be empowered as you walk in His pastures and delighted as you sit by His streams. And He is waiting to lead you there.

May you take time today to experience the freshness of the Spirit and behold the beauty of our Lord. May it take your breath away as He stills your hearts with admiration and silences your minds with awe. May it take your relationship with Him to a beautiful new dimension.  

#SaturdaySoulSearch