All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your[a] mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your[b] kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.[c]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth. – Psalm 145:10-18
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Are you able to feel the nearness of the Lord? Can you feel his presence as you call on him? Are you carving out time during your day TO call on him? Matthew 11:28 tells us, “Come to me all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” Perhaps your lack of rest is getting in the way of Jesus trying to come to you… perhaps your busyness is stifling God’s presence.
In our technology driven and fast-paced, competitive world comprised of details, deadlines, Facebook, WhatsApp, text messaging, email and more, many of us are too distracted and, perhaps, too tired, to give our full attention to God! Because of this, even when we call on him, we can’t truly hear what he has to say to us.
Having just completed retreat #1 with the Transforming Community here in Illinois, Ruth Haley Barton reminded us that some, if not all, of us are dangerously tired. Be aware! Stand guard! Stay alert to symptoms that you may be experiencing because you may be one of many who are dangerously tired.
I invite you to accept Jesus’ invitation to come to him because he truly can give you rest… but only if you ask. True rest can be found through simply asking and committing to spend time with him.
Love, Tammy