Psalm 37:7-11 New American Standard Bible
7 [a]Rest in the Lord and wait [b]patiently for Him;
Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way,
Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
In Seeking God’s Face, a devotional prayer book, author Philip Reinders urges readers to take the time each day to enjoy God’s presence.
Every day he invites us to “take refreshment in God’s presence.”
In his own words the author is repeating what David says in today’s verse: “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.”
Most of us will find ourselves too busy, or too distracted to be still and to wait patiently for the Lord.
Today, I urge you to take a few moments today to look back on the past week and see the amount of time you have spent enjoying God’s presence.
Maybe you rushed to work or hurried to get your kids to school or to some other activity.
Maybe you had several meetings to attend, several appointments to keep, text messages to send, and emails to answer.
You may have had games to go to and other events to attend with your kids.
As you glance back, do you see much time or too little or no time at all, in which you exclusively focused on God’s presence?
If not, perhaps a few changes are needed.
What if you got up a few minutes earlier each day to pray?
What if you spent a half-hour less watching television or texting or on the Internet to pick up your bible to just reflect on God and enjoy his presence?
Some of us must learn to say “no” to some activities in our church or school.
Perhaps we need to discipline ourselves to be still before the Lord and to take the time to wait patiently for him?
The Significance of Sabbath Rest
Exodus 20:8-11 New American Standard Bible
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your [a]resident who [b]stays with you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
I recall several times when I neglected rest and found myself overwhelmed by busyness and stress.
A pastor friend of mine shared with me Exodus 20:8-11 and encouraged me to intentionally set aside times each week exclusively for rest, study, reflection, implicitly trusting that God’s commandment to rest was not just for physical rejuvenation but also for spiritual renewal.
Sabbath is a sacred gift from God, a covenanted time set apart for rest, worship, and reflection.
It reminds us of God’s creative power and his desire for us to experience his peace. In a culture that values productivity and constant activity, observing our Sabbath day requires intentional commitment and full trust in God’s provision.
When we honor the Sabbath, we accept our dependence on God and his never ending faithfulness.
We cease from our usual work to deliberately delight in God’s presence and to prioritize relationships with him and others.
Sabbath rest allows us to recharge physically, emotionally, and spiritually to serve God and others throughout the week. Each Sabbath day is an invitation to fully embrace, enjoy God’s rest, to align our hearts with his rhythms of grace.
As you long for spiritual refreshment and deeper intimacy with God, consider embracing the gift of Sabbath rest.
Set aside time to worship, pray, and reflect on God’s goodness, mercy and love.
May each Sabbath remind you of God’s love and his desire for us to rest in him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Praise for the Lord’s Goodness.
A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day.
92 It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, Most High;
2 To declare Your goodness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by [a]night,
3 [b]With the ten-stringed lute and [c]with the harp,
[d]With resounding music on the lyre.
4 For You, Lord, have made me joyful by [e]what You have done,
I will sing for joy over the works of Your hands.
5 How great are Your works, Lord!
Your [f]thoughts are very deep.
6 A stupid person has no knowledge,
Nor does a foolish person understand this:
7 When the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did injustice flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
8 But You, Lord, are on high forever.
9 For, behold, Your enemies, Lord,
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do injustice will be scattered.
10 But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
I have [g]been anointed with fresh oil.
11 And my eye has looked at my enemies,
My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.
12 The righteous person will [h]flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courtyards of our God.
14 They will still [i]yield fruit in advanced age;
They will be [j]full of sap and very green,
15 To [k]declare that the Lord is just;
He is my rock, and there is no malice in Him.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 