Finding Rest in God
Can you remember the last time you drank cold water after being outside in the hot sun? Or maybe diving into a lake in the middle of summer? It feels good to be refreshed physically, and all of us have different ideas about how to get refreshed.
God’s Word tells us that God is like a Shepherd who takes care of us. He protects us from harm and He makes sure we’re nourished.
One of the jobs of a shepherd is to provide the sheep with refreshment. This is why the writer of Psalm 23 says the Lord leads him into quiet places and lush spaces. Those things were refreshing to his soul.
Have you checked on your own soul lately?
Sometimes when we haven’t been refreshed by God, we end up living in a hurry. We keep our souls and minds busy going from one thing to the next. We become anxious. After long enough, we begin to think there might be something wrong with us.
In John 10:11, Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. This means that Jesus provides the right path that we should walk, spiritual protection and guidance through prayer, and also spiritual refreshment for our soul. When we spend time with Jesus, part of His job is to refresh us.
But in order to do that, we have to follow Him into those quiet spaces. We have to leave the noise and notifications of the world behind us and learn the slow pace of Jesus. We don’t have to hurry in our time with Him.
When we learn to quiet our souls by removing distractions, we can begin to enjoy simply being with Jesus. When we learn to enjoy Jesus, then He will do His job of refreshing our souls that are parched and weary without Him.
So take some time today without distractions and spend time with Jesus. If you find that difficult, that is an indicator that your soul isn’t used to resting. Your life will be so much healthier and satisfying if you make it a daily habit to be refreshed by God.
From Praise to Proclamation
In Psalm 105:1 we are invited on a journey—not across geography, but into the heart of God. The verse begins with worship: “Give praise to the Lord.” Before we do anything for God, we are called to behold Him. Praise lifts our eyes from our circumstances and fixes them on His faithfulness and goodness.
The verse then moves deeper: “Proclaim his name.” Worship is not meant to remain silent. As we speak His name, we remember who He is—the covenant-keeping God who acts in history, rescues His people, provides for their needs, and reveals Himself to those who seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
Finally, the movement turns outward: “Make known among the nations what he has done.” Praise naturally overflows into proclamation. The God we worship is the Lord of all peoples and he does all things for His Glory and our good. His works are meant to be told and retold until every nation hears and sings!
These words were first sung when the ark of God was brought into...