April 24, 2018
Psalm 95 The Message (MSG)
Our minds are continuously busy aren’t they? There is always something near to capture our attention and occupy our time. It’s a real part of our culture. Have you ever just tried to sit for five minutes and focus on enjoying God’s presence? It can be a challenge to stay focused. I’m not talking about sitting and trying to wrap your thoughts around who God is or trying to make sense of your life. This is not an exercise where you come with an agenda or do anything; it is an exercise in trust and spiritual “rest.” I’m asking if you make time to sit quietly for five minutes and just breath, open your heart, and whisper for God’s abiding presence to connect with you in a powerful way?
If we do not learn the posture of rest before God, we cannot rise in the power of His Spirit. That does not mean we do nothing all day long. It means we spend time with God, gain guidance for our day, and then tell our souls (mind, will, emotions) to rest and allow him to live and move and have his being in us. In other words, we stop fighting the process outflowing his resurrection; we embrace trust and obedience. He has come in the Spirit to live through us, remember?
In our passage today, the psalmist is singing about the greatness of God, the power of his mighty love, and the rest and obedience He requires to guide our lives. Let’s learn from this psalmist today. So, sit for five minutes and focus on praising and enjoying God, my friends! He wants to speak to you.
Psalm 95
1-2 Come, let’s shout praises to God,
raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!
Let’s march into his presence singing praises,
lifting the rafters with our hymns!
3-5
And why? Because God is the best,
High King over all the gods.
In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns,
in the other hand grasps the high mountains.
He made Ocean—he owns it!
His hands sculpted Earth!
6-7
So come, let us worship: bow before him,
on your knees before God, who made us!
Oh yes, he’s our God,
and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.
7-11
Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks:
“Don’t turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising,
As on the day of the Wilderness Test,
when your ancestors turned and put me to the test.
For forty years they watched me at work among them,
as over and over they tried my patience.
And I was provoked—oh, was I provoked!
‘Can’t they keep their minds on God for five minutes?
Do they simply refuse to walk down my road?’
Exasperated, I exploded,
‘They’ll never get where they’re headed,
never be able to sit down and rest.’”
Prayer: Lord, you provide practical ways in which you call me to engage so I may enjoy a deeper relationship with you. Thank you for calling my name, for caring about every aspect of me, and for helping me to enjoy more of you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.