Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. Psalm 134
Over time, I have realized just how important it is to make deliberate time to just rest. Time when we lay down our “to do list” and stop striving and just learn to rest.
God has been using my husband a lot lately to teach me the importance of rest and fun. It’s amazing how having a good laugh can brighten your whole outlook on life. Also, I’m learning that it’s so good to allow others to bless me and for me to freely receive. It took me years to realize that instead of simply receiving goodness from Chris, I was actually trying to avoid it. Most of the time when I was avoiding his kindness, it was because I already had an agenda in place and was working to get my tasks completed. Now when I notice him reaching out in kindness, I stop. It takes a deliberate action and noticing on my part, but I am learning to simply stop. Then I acknowledge whatever kindness it is he is offering to me, and I move my heart to a posture of receiving, and then I thank him and God each time.
This may sound oversimplified, but I would wager that you too struggle with receiving sometimes.
This practice of receiving, will lead us into worshiping God. That’s one reason it’s so important to begin learning this.
The more I notice and receive another’s kindness, the more I am drawn to worship my ever-present God.
Prayer Moment: Today I challenge you to begin noticing simple acts of kindness from others toward you. It may be more enlightening than you imagine it will be. Ask God to give you an awareness of His goodness through other’s actions. Let all of this lead you toward worship and thanksgiving. Here is some scripture to help you meditate on God’s goodness toward you.
I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing Your praise. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word. When I called, You answered me; You made me bold and stouthearted. May all the kings of the earth praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is on high, He looks upon the lowly, but the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand You save me. The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of Your hands. Psalm 138
365 Days in the Presence 