Remember (or imagine) the feeling of diving down to get something off the bottom of the swimming pool in the deep end? Your arm strokes and kicks propel you downward. Then, with the object in hand, you thrust off the bottom, jetting upward. As you break through the water’s surface, your lungs refill what was rapidly depleting.
Let’s do that today. Let’s all take a deep breath of God’s goodness, love, and faithfulness. Psalm 89:15 says, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your Presence, O LORD.” Today, let’s choose to applaud our Creator. Look around. What are we thankful for? It doesn’t have to be anything major. Remember, God works in the details. It may be something someone else would consider insignificant, but to you, it touches your heart that your Heavenly Father presented you with that specific blessing today.
I know if your favorite sports team was winning or if you were attending an amazing concert or event, you’d be applauding full on! Psalm 89:16 adds, “They rejoice in Your Name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness.” FYI, ‘exult’ means to jump for joy; with elation or jubilation. So, let’s release that pent up energy to the Lord today, because after all, “He is more awesome than all who surround Him” (Psalm 89:7b). There is no one more worthy of glory, honor, and praise. Breathe Him in and then exhale exaltation to the King of kings! It is just what the ‘Doctor’ ordered!
For those of you in that valley right now, this is a SHOUT OUT … because I’m there too. And, this is what I know:
As we continue to look at the 23rd Psalm, we see how a shepherd cares for his sheep. Verse two says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.” Now if you are a human, that may not mean much, but if you imagine yourself as one of the shepherd’s sheep, it’s a whole, new, woolly story. First, the shepherd ‘makes’ the sheep lie down. Why? Are we too dumb to know that we need to stop what we are doing and take time to rest? Sometimes. So once down, will the flock rest? Only if they feel secure. Sheep are very fearful animals. If they sense danger or feel insecure, they will not rest. And neither do we.
Remember in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy and her friends were terrified to go before the great and powerful Oz? The wizard was a frightening character, loud, angry, and intimidating! Dorothy and her friends, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, were quaking in their skin, straw, tin, and fur, nearly too petrified to explain their predicament and present their requests.
Pointing the Way ~ by Arrow 