Psalm 23:1-2 AMP says, “The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.”
Still waters are usually a part of a stream that is steady in supply, yet constantly renewed. And streams are often found in valleys, flowing from one end of the valley to the other. In fact, most valley’s are formed from the erosion of rivers or streams over a long period of time. And even though the surface of many streams may appear to be calm and still; underneath the waters are still flowing, still moving, still carving its way through the earth. (Like the still waters, sometimes we think that the hand of the Lord is not moving but he is always working under the surface, shaping the course of our way.).
Whenever we’re feeling relaxed, comfortable, and at-ease, and when we’re in a place of green pastures there is an indication of still water. Still waters let us know that the Lord has brought us from the patchy, uncertain grounds and have allowed us to come into a place of peace, serenity, and provision, where we can rest in certainty, security and safety, and in a place where he can feed us unhindered and limitlessly.
Something that’s really significant and worth pointing out, is our awareness. Being aware that we are in that place is just as important as being there. When God has made all those provisions to purposefully position us and bring us to that place; If we become unfocused, lax, distracted, and absent-minded, even though we know the Lord’s presence is there, we can be unconscious of the leading of our great Shepherd, and we can miss the purpose of why he has lead us into this place, mistaking the valley for our destination.
Psalm 23:3 (AMP) tells us that while he is leading us besides the still waters “He refreshes and restores my soul (life);…” That’s it. That’s why we are in that place; for a refreshing and restoration. Have you ever been refreshed and restored in the midst of chaos and trouble? How about in the midst of sadness, hostility, suppression and depression?
Regardless of what you’ve been through, you have come to the place; and there has never been a greater time for being refreshed and restored. Now is the time. The time for refreshing, the time for restoring, the time for renewing. Now is the time for new ideas, new growth. New energy. Now is the time, to shake off all negativity and everything that held us back. Now is the time to pay attention to things that you have been putting off, to areas of your life that you have neglected. Now is the time to turn the soil and start planting new seeds in our lives. Now is the time to lean in a little bit closer.
As a Shepherd the Lord desires an intimate relationship with us. One that is so close that we can hear his voice within ourselves. He knows us so well that he is always one step ahead of us. He’s always available to reach out to us, to nudge us, to calm the seas so that we can rest. But when we lean in a little closer, we can hear his whispers, we can feel his heart and all the love that he has lavished on us. We can receive what he has to give to us, and we can embrace his will that he has set before us.
If you read Psalm 23 further the Lord tells us how he will keep us as day turns to night and how he will not leave our side, ensuring that the sun will always rise again and that we will be uplifted, anointed and overflowing with his great love, blessings, gifts, talents and favor all of our days. When we lean in a little closer, we show God that we want to hear him, that we’re interested in him, and that we don’t want to miss a moment with him. We show him that we are attentive to his word and to his presence.
As you walk besides the still waters, as he refreshes and restores your soul (your life), Lean In a Little Closer.
Be Blessed,
G.M.
G.M. Sunshine 