Psalm 23: 1-2 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Is the LORD your Shepherd? If He is, there is nothing that you will lack. The Shepherd has a very important message for us today. Listen carefully…. He wants us to slow down. What do you think of when you hear the words, ‘He makes me to lie down in green pastures?’ I think about a beautiful field on a fall day. No bugs are present of course, and I am lying on a lush piece of grass. It is quiet, and I am so wonderfully taken away from all the noise and commotion and ‘things I need to do’. I attend to the each of the sounds, and breathe in the fragrance He has placed in the air. I examine the enormity of creation and the vastness of the sky. I look at the trees and the colors that are interwoven throughout the leaves. I literally come away from it all, lie down, and rest. It sounds really good doesn’t it?

But what really captures my attention about this verse is: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Our world is a rushing tidal wave, but God is still waters. (Literally translated as ‘waters of rest’). Friends, He calls us to Himself to SLOW DOWN. Lie down in the grass He formed; look up at the royal blue sky with the eyes He gave you. What incredible cloud formations do you see? Wander over to the still waters, sit down, and examine them. They are deep and filled with wonder. And do you see what else they do? They reflect don’t they.

What do you see beside the still waters, when you are quiet and attentive and focused on the One who loves you? Do you see more of Him? Or do you see a worn out face that reflects a life in the middle of a loud and roaring tidal wave?

This speaks to me maybe more than it speaks to any of you who are reading it. I am so busy, and I am so tired. Not just sleepy tired, but plain old worn out. I want to lie in this pasture and sit beside the crystal clear brook that I can so vividly picture in my mind. The amazing thing is that God wants to take me there; He desires to lead me to a place of rest as much as I desire to go. Don’t get me wrong, none of us can ignore our daily responsibilities and our calling to serve our Savior. But if we aren’t careful, we’ll miss out on a God given opportunity to ‘get away’ with Him. I want to go, don’t you?

For Today: You and I have a loving, tender, and merciful Shepherd who is never in a frantic rush. Unfortunately, that is just how many of us spend most of our days. We must purpose in our minds to stop. Literally and totally stop. Try this: go into your bedroom or den or basement. Lie down on your floor and use the imagination God gave you. Pretend it’s the most comfortable bed of grass. Take time to absorb the majesty around you; look, listen, smell, and feel…and then get ready for the Shepherd to lead you to more of Himself; to the pure, refreshing, and abundant waters of life. NOW gaze at the most beautiful thing of all; upon Him. Bask in His love, reflect upon His never changing character, and rest in the security of His presence.

There is no vacation anywhere that can hold a candle to that.