I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
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.
The Strength of God in Us
Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:10 are a paradox. We don’t often think of hardship and difficulties in life as a sign of strength or joy. Our culture often celebrates the physically and mentally strong, and it’s easy to elevate those who are successful and talented.
But Paul says that God works differently among those who follow Him. Rather than looking for those who are naturally talented and strong, God likes to use those who are weak and humble.
Our natural successes and talents can get in the way of God working in our life, but when we are weak and helpless, we must rely on God’s strength alone.
That is why Paul says he delights in difficulty, persecution, and hardship—because it’s in those moments that God is able to be his strength and joy. God forms character in times of difficulty.
Paul was not a naturally gifted speaker or writer, and yet God worked mightily within his weakness to produce powerful speeches and letters that are part of Scripture....
