The Beach Is Calling: A 10 Day Plan for Rest and Relaxation预览

Clearing the Path to Quiet

Quiet down before God, be prayerful before Him. PSALM 37:7 THE MESSAGE

When we’re encouraged to quiet down before God and be prayerful, there’s a good chance it isn’t our voices we need to silence, but our minds. That’s where the trouble starts as far as worry, anxiety, and fear go. Thoughts send chain reactions through our bodies, and they’re going to be good or bad ones. That’s why Paul said to “fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely” (PHILIPPIANS 4:8 TLB).

Paul understood the mind-body connection and he knew our worries and fears could cause us to fold under pressure. If we start to believe things contrary to God’s love and truth, anxiety can establish a pathway to destroy our overall well-being. Getting our minds to quiet down before God begins with filling them up with what His Word says: “Truly my soul finds rest in God” (PSALM 62:1 NIV); “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you” (PSALM 116:7 NIV); “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (MATTHEW 11:28 NIV).

If the thoughts clamoring for our attention don’t come from love and truth, they have to go! Rooting out negativity will get us to a place of relaxing in God’s faithfulness. The quicker we pluck out the lies, the faster the quiet comes and the sooner we get to the second part of Psalm 37:7, “be prayerful before Him.”

Prayer brings the best rest to every part of us. In prayer, we have God’s ear, and we learn His heart. It’s a conversation that invites us to tap into our lifeline. He has time for us no matter what, He’s listening to us no matter when, and He forgives and strengthens us no matter how many times we come to the throne of His amazing grace (HEBREWS 4:16). We can never exhaust His mercy. And isn’t that a beautiful truth to give our spirit, soul, and body the rest it needs today?

Father, give me strength and wisdom to pull the negative “weeds” in my mind, clearing the path for peace, rest, and a renewed confidence in You.