Life has movement, more than just from meeting to meeting or task to task. We spend time in one spiritual place: high school, college, a job, a home, a marriage or having young children. Then we move from one familiar set of relationships to another. We are often not sure where we are headed and certainly don’t know where we will end up. Personally, I just recently retired for the second time. The transition is somewhat disconcerting but also kind of neat.
Sheep have no idea of how to get from one pleasant place of feeding and growth to another. They have to be lead. Now we are brighter than sheep and more self-directed, but most people say that transitions are difficult. Though David was an alpha male, a real “A” Type Driver, he discovered that in the middle of change things got pretty murky. For instance, while fleeing for his life from King Saul, David was captured by Achish, King of Gath. He threw up his hands. It looked like the end of the road. Ironically, that moment became the start of a new chapter in his life, his journey to becoming king 1 Samuel 21,22. He prayed and God gave him an idea as to what the next step might be.
Because God loves you, you will discover experiences you have had of the perplexing becoming a road to a new chapter. Ask and God will remind you. In transition you are on a right road to a new chapter if you follow God’s leading. In Psalm 23 we have the opportunity to share in David’s discovery for himself that this is true. And it is really neat. Now relax, and when you are ready read to yourself:
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake. Ps 23:3 NIV
Just be aware of whatever image or memory comes to you. Just be aware of what comes. You have asked God for a gift. Now allow yourself to receive it.
If nothing comes ask,”Lord, when have I discovered that you were there even when I was not sure as to where to go?” Allow your mind to be lead to wherever it goes. If after a few minutes it is just wandering aimless around, repeat the verse once more and wait.
Listen. Using meditation to develop a God listening heart just takes a bit of practice and patience with yourself. If you are like me, I am forever looking at my to do list and fretting because it is not done. Psalm 37 reminds us that fretting tends towards evil on many levels. “Be still and wait on the Lord.”
Make notes of whatever comes to you and thank God for guidance during the confusion of times of transition. If you are willing to let God show you when you have personally experienced this promises you will gain in the peace for yourself and have a fantastic gift to share with others in their anxiety. You will both have and be able to share the peace that passes all understanding. Philippians 4:7.
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