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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Green (10/22/09)
One of my favorite Psalms is number twenty-three. I have read it over and over for years and today I decided would be a good day to return to the Psalm in which I find such comfort, such peace, such . . . wait a minute . . . what is this I see?

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures.”

I never notice that before! Why is He making me do anything? Especially today! Don’t I have a free will? No one likes to be made to do something they don’t want to. What if I don’t want to lie down? What if I want to stand up, move around, or go shopping?

Is God making me; the one who is always so busy planning and organizing my life, to stop what I’m doing and lie down? And do what? Rest? Surrender? Give up? Sleep?

If He is asking me to surrender and submit my life to Him, I already did years ago. If He wants me to get some extra sleep, well I get my six to eight hours every night and I don’t need to catch a few extra 'z' s during the day. Today I have a whole slew of things to get done. To lie down now will only stress me out and cause me a great deal of anxiety.

And besides . . . just where are these green pastures?

I don’t know about you, but the green pastures around here need to be mowed, edged, and fertilized weekly. I really would like to lie down right now; I am tired, worn out, and stressed. But who does He think is going to mow the lawn? Maybe I am being rebellious and stubborn, excising my will over His, but if he wants me to lie down then He can send someone to help me out!

Then it hits me, like the rock flying up from my mower, it’s not about Him making me do anything; it’s about letting Him lead me.

“He leads me beside the still waters.”

When I let Him lead me . . . He will guide me to a prefect-resting place. A place to surrender to Him all my worldly stresses, a place to give up all my plans, ambitions, and desires - for His, a place to experience His peace and tranquility.

It is in His pastures; made green and lush by the rain showers of His love and mercy, where I graze upon His Word and all my fears, worries, and anxieties are washed away. It is besides the still waters; flowing with the assurance of hope and the promise of confidence, that I sip from His goodness. It is my journey to the pastureland, alongside the calm waters; that I find He takes care of my every need.

If that is where He makes me lie down, well, who I am I to complain? Free will or not; lead on, my Lord, lead on.


Note to self:

I have noticed that His sheep keeps His pastures very well manicured!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Dan Blankenship
10/29/09
Oh, the struggle of understanding His ways can sometimes be difficult. I loved the last line!

"I have noticed that His sheep keeps His pastures very well manicured!"

Keep up the writing.
May God bless.
Sincerely,
Dan Blankenship