Weekly Devotional

When I need to get my head out of the “noise” of the world, I like to take a long walk in the park or a hike through the woods.  Something is cleansing about being surrounded by nature, clearing all thoughts from my mind and allowing my senses to experience God’s creation…breathing in the fresh air, listening to the bird’s joyful songs, watching squirrels go about their busy work, the calming sound of a rustling creek.  I was on one of these walks recently.  It was an unseasonably warm day for early January, and I felt a bit overwhelmed and mentally drained.  So, on this particular day, a walk in the park was just what God ordered.  It was as if He was calling to me, urging me to let go of my concerns and take in the beauty and simplicity of each experience I encountered along the walk.

I think the complexities of the world can sometimes make us lose sight of the simple joy of being a Christian.  In those moments, we need to be purposeful about seeking out God.  We need a walk in the park to connect with nature, that special friend who always makes us laugh, a favorite Bible passage that centers us, a simple prayer, or whatever that unique spark is that helps bring everything back into focus for you. 

Psalm 40: 1-3 says…

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  ² He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.  ³ He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

Verse 2 describes a near-hopeless state of mind, but I find it comforting how quickly Verse 3 turns into a song of praise to our God!  We need to reach out to Him in our times of need and then wait patiently.  When I read this part of the passage, I don’t necessarily think about waiting as an indication of the passage of time, but rather, I focus more on “patiently,” which speaks to trusting that God will respond.  When was the last time you waited patiently for something that you didn’t believe (trust, expect) would happen?  Without trust, our waiting is more often anxious than patient.  As Christians, we have faith that God will respond.  There is truly a depth of peace that only comes from trusting God. 

Prayer:  Father, help me find whatever it is that will center my thoughts on you and allow me to quiet the noise of the world.  I will wait patiently and trust that you have me.  Help me share the peace that only comes from you with someone who may need a little solace today.  In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.”