Social Distancing He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures

Social Distancing

He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures

The keys to life can be hard to find

We can work hard, and spend a lot of energy trying each day searching

The Good Shepherd holds the Keys of Life

Psalms 23:2 says  

He makes me lie down

God wants you to take time throughout your day to take breaks

No matter how dry and hard your day is

The Good Shepherd has green pastures for you

Whatever you are working on today

The Good Shepherd holds the key to your success

Be sure you take time to 

lie down in green pastures

He has provided for you

You need rest with Him

The time you spend with Him will make you more productive

He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures

The other day my son Marty was

helping me move some vehicles.

At one point he had given

me the keys to my van.

This was the only key I have for that van.

Later, I wanted to move the van

and reaching in my pocket pulled

out a handful of keys, but no van key.

I repeated this effort two

more times, but still no key.

Earlier I had one vehicle we had

to tow and I had to lie on

the ground to secure the tow rope.

I looked at least three times in that area.

I went into the house to talk to Sandy

about it, hoping that would trigger my

 mind to think about something I was missing.

I also was hoping she would help me look

because she is very good at finding things.

I went back out and repeated all the things

I had done before at least three times.

I even searched the two key racks to see if

maybe I had a duplicate or hung it up by chance.

I was in disbelief that I could not find the key.

It was afternoon and I was tired,

 so I decided to lie down and

rest my body and mind.

As I laid down it felt wonderful.

My body relaxed and so did my mind.

After a few minutes I was feeling renewed.

I found myself able to picture

my son giving me the key.

I could remember having a tow

strap in my hand I had broken earlier.

I had taking the broken tow rope

and placed it in the garage.

As I laid in bed I thought

that must be where the key is.

Sure enough it was there.

As I read Psalms 23:2

 I thought of this story…

    

He makes me lie down in green pastures

As a kid, I never liked it when I

was made to lie down for a nap.

I really did not want to lie

down when my key was lost.

I wanted to keep working, keep looking,

and spend energy aimlessly doing the

same thing over and over again.

 The Good Shepherd knows we

need to lie down in green pastures.

We need to take time to

rest the body and mind.

A time to rest from our spending

energy aimlessly doing the same

thing over and over again.

There is a lot of research

out there about taking breaks.

There is also a lot of advice on how

to make those breaks beneficial.

I am not a break person.

 When I have a project,

 I like to get it done.

For me the hardest part of

a job is starting.

 So a break means I have to start

again when the break is over.

Skipping lunch means burning more

calories and taking less in so, working

through lunch is good for me.

Maybe this is why Psalms 23:2 says…

He makes me lie down

How hard is it for God to make you lie down? …

To take a break from the day.

Notice the Good Shepherd has

a place for you to lie down in.

It is a place of green pastures.

God promises never to leave you.

There are a lot of places you will

go and a lot of things you will do.

But remember this…

 The Good Shepherd wants you

to stop and reset with Him.

No matter how dry and dusty life gets…

Throughout the day, the good Shepherd

has a place of green grass for you to lie in.

When I laid down from

my efforts to find the key…

As I laid in the green pastures and prayed…

The Good Shepherd restored my mind.

When the Good Shepherd is making

you lay down in green pastures…

He makes you lie down so

you will find the Keys to Life.

  

Scripture Reading

Psalms 23:1-24:1 NIV

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.