Psalm 23 is such a beautiful, peaceful psalm with lots of powerful and beautiful thoughts in it. It is a good one to meditate with often.
I find that a daily time of Bible reading and prayer is essential in my walk of faith. Quiet time with God - a time away from the busy-ness of my day - away from the phone, the TV, the computer, yes even time away from Phil - helps me connect with God. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2) The "green pastures" and "still waters" are more than a perfect country scene. They speak of our communion with God whereby He "restores our souls and leads us in His paths" (verse 3).
All of us can make time to meet with God, but do we? Here is a suggestion for a way to begin: Start with a short prayer for guidance, ask The Holy Spirit to lead you, then read the Bible for a few minutes, and close with a short time of prayer that includes adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and prayers for others. It's vital to take time today to connect with the Lord, who is our life.
I like to think of it like this: I have an appointment with my doctor. I would never think of not going with such excuses as "I'm too tired today", "it's too cold or too hot", "I'm sick", "I need to go shopping" . . . . No, I would not do that. I keep my appointment. That's what I need to do with My Lord. And that's the most important appointment I could ever have! Keeping a daily appointment with GOD is a vital part of the Christian life. The more time we spend with God -- reading His Word, conversing with Him in prayer, meditating on thoughts from His Word - - the better we get to know Him and the more our lives begin to reflect His image and His truth. It's so worth the effort and the time.
I like to have a journal at my fingertips so I can jot down thoughts and scriptures, etc., that I receive when I'm praying. Later when I go back and read these journals, I see God at work in my life. I know My Lord is sitting with me. Sometimes I feel His presence, hear His words to me, feel His touch - Other times, I feel like He has forgotten me. But, I know that the rest of my day (or night) will go a lot better, and somehow everything I wanted to get done, does get done.
I also like to listen to music during this time. A very wonderful gift from God for us. Music seems to chase the blues away, seems to chase the devil - and all he thinks he's going to do - away.
I will be doing a time of teachings on prayer - what I have learned through the years - and I will be posting it here. Please share your thoughts, your prayers, your opinions whenever you want to.
God bless you!
4 comments:
Thank you so much, Mom, for leading us into this year of 2012 with this great subject, PRAYER....boy I know I need this study. I think back at how ungrateful I was, and hope to start today, by giving thanks, praise and adoration to God each day. I know I need to spend time with God everyday...so I am looking forward to your teachings, Mom...Thank you...Psalms is a great place to start each day...I will
Wow!!! Thank you, thank you Aunt Lonnie!! Isn't it funny how the Lord works? I have been going through my RCIA class with passion and hunger.....until just recently....as expected, I lost some of that enthusiasm-darn devil. And now, working through my God Mother (thanks Mom for choosing such a faith filled woman-even though you didn't know it at the time) the Lord will bring me back to those cravings and fill my heart with the Holy Spirit. I NEEDED THIS. I start each prayer with a prayer of desire. Letting Jesus know how much I need him, desire him and want him to come into my HEART. I love the Psalms, what a great way to do this!
Aunt Lonnie - I am so glad you are back. I have been waiting for a long time. I love your blog and the insights that God gives to you to lead and teach and encourage the rest of us. I am exdited that I will be able to read and learn from you in 2012.
I watched a great Dr. Charles Stanley teaching about the 23rd Psalm.
Verse 1: The Lord is MY Shepherd (personal - mine)
I shall not want (He handles all my needs)
Verse 2: He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. (He gives me pleasant rest and beauty and the desires of my heart).
Verse 3: He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His names sake. (The Lord forgives and pardons my sins, He sets me on a walk that leads to Him and His kingdom.)
Verse 4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (sin, the world),
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Dangers of sin surround me all the day long. My mind fixed on my Lord eliminates the fear, He is my great protector. Meditation and daily Bible reading keep my focus on the power of God)
Verse 5: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (show me favor);
You anoint my head with oil (Prepare me for your Kingdom);
My cup runs over.
Verse 6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever (I will remain in relationship to my Lord here and now on earth by reading His word and learning His personality and character. To reap the blessing here and now through the mercy of my God and in preparation for entrance into His kingdom in eternal life).
I always thought of the 23rd Psalm as the "funeral" passage. Then I had the teaching of Dr. Stanley and realized I had it all wrong.
Bible time is the most important time. I have been so remiss in my relation prayer time. I pray everyday, but I used to preceed the time with Bible reading and close prayer with a Bible reading. I've been leaving the Bible out. Breaking away from the Bible has had a significant impact on my own attitude as I slowly became embroiled in the worldly.
Thank you so much for the wake up call.
I can't wait for your next post and where it will lead me.
Thanks for your sharings, Karen, Teresa, and Michelle. Such wonderful encouragement we can give each other. And oh, how important it is to do bible study, prayer, and encouraging one another in this time of trials and troubles that face our world today. Thanks.
Michelle, your insight and sharing Dr. Stanley's wisdom, is much appreciated and much needed. Thank you!
This is what I love to see here when I write on this blog! It's truly a blessing for each of us. I do pray a lot and listen for direction and guidance before I write each time. Praise God for leading us!
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