Matthew 6:34, Hebrews 13:5

Paul Critchley reflects on the need to live from a place of rest in God.

Paul Critchley

The summer months can be a big season of change in many households, for individuals and families. Children moving classes, changing from primary to high school, university students graduating, just beginning, teachers losing and gaining pupils and employers taking on new blood. This is just a snapshot of the many things that are in transit especially at this time of year.

This is certainly true in the Critchley household as one child begins high school, one starts college and one leaves home altogether to begin work and a new phase of life elsewhere in the country. So many changes! In the middle of it all, just this week, I sensed a prompting from God, a still small voice saying 'Abide'.

How can that be possible in such a busy and transient time? I guess it's not even about the practicalities of all of this; it's more to do with heart and soul. What's the condition of these as I go through the process?

I don't know if you're like me? Often my mind can race ahead, trying to work out scenarios, wondering how things will turn out. I don't think that it's about lack of trust. I believe it's about the desire to see God's best. The excitement of what that might be, balanced with what will happen on the journey from here to there.

Even as I'm writing, this scripture pops right into the front of my thinking, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

Then I found this great Message version: "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes".

This is a great reminder that God is in control; but although we may readily speak this truth out loud, in the reality of our lives we behave like we are in control, or circumstances are.

So how do we strengthen our understanding of his truth in our busy lives?

I believe that the ultimate way is by welcoming and entering into his presence. Whilst he has promised to 'never leave us or forsake us', we are prone to wandering, through busy lives, overwhelming circumstances and even apathy. The truth is that to truly 'know' something of God's character we need to meet with him and give time to relationship with him. It's not an occasional appointment, but a daily choice to come to him, sit with him and hear from him. What can be one of the trickiest ones for us in a sea of change is to be with him and abide with him. This is the place where all things spring from love, peace, protection and wisdom to name just a few. It seems obvious, but still we can miss it and wonder why life can be in turmoil.

When we find this space it's really not a time to bring requests. I don't even think it's about hearing from him. It's a resting place; a time to press pause on our day.

I'm aware that everyone's situation and timetable is different, but he waits for us to come and meet with him. This is amazing truth! Just like the father of the prodigal son waited and kept watch for his wayward son. God is watching and waiting for us. It seems that he values time with us far more than we do with him. He has a longing to abide with us to a greater level than we have. Incredible isn't it!

His heart is always towards us as we encounter challenge and change. It's the deeper understanding of this that will draw us in. For me, it's always when I sense more of his heartbeat that I'm pulled closer in. It's a desire to hear his life's rhythm more, to understand his ways for me and those that surround me.

So, can we stop for just a minute? Can we breathe in something of the rest that comes from giving ourselves over to time with him?

These words from Jeremy Riddle's song 'Full Attention' are a great prayer for me and you today:

Please keep my eyes fixed on you
Please root my heart so deep in you
Keep me abiding, yes keep me abiding
Keep me abiding that I may bear fruit
Jeremy Riddle © 2007 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing