Graze: To feed on growing grasses.



The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

-Ps. 23:1-6

Growing up on a farm, I used to watch the cows, sheep & horses graze in the pasture. Each morning we would open the gate to the barnyard and they knew there was freedom from that small pen they were in. They also knew there was nice green grass beyond the barnyard. Once the gate was open, look out because those animals wanted to get where the tall, green grass grew – the pasture! They would take off sometimes even running up the old fenced lane that went up over the hill through the cornfield to the lush green pasture on the other side of the farm. There they would graze for a while then lay down and rest for a while then graze some more. They did this all day long. Come evening we would go over to the pasture’s edge and call the cows – 'come boss, 'come boss. They would gather at the pasture gate. Sometimes we would have to go round up a few stragglers and when all were accounted for, we’d open the lane gate and back over the hill they would go to the barnyard for the night. The next morning was the same routine, day after day. What a life, huh?!

Oh that we could just graze and rest in shady green pastures all day long! But we can rest and graze in God’s green pastures and restore our souls . . . The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (Ps. 23:1) I believe God wants us to slow down and “rest” and “graze” and “feed” on His Word. Life throws so many things our way and we are so busy – busy doing good things. But are we running on empty a good share of the time? Are we feeling stretched to extreme? Are we content with who we are in God’s divine providence? Slow down and take some time to just leisurely graze, rest a while, then graze and feed on the good things God has provided for you. Graze, rest, and enjoy the “shady green pastures” of God’s abundant love, grace, and mercy.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

God Knows Our Situation

"God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them."  (C.S. Lewis)

I don't know about you but this quote by C.S. Lewis speaks loudly to me. As I thought about it I realized that God really does know my situation and he also knows your situation.  He knows every little and big detail of what's going on with you and me.  He knows the difficulties we may have to overcome. The struggles we may be facing. And isn't is comforting that He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome.  But He will look deep down into our hearts, into our "will" and He sees the sincerity and the perseverance with which we "press on" to reach and overcome these parts of life that seem so difficult at times. People seem quick to judge by the outward things that they see - the surface situations.  But God knows "our" specific situation - sees our sincerity, our perseverance, our trust in Him and tells us to keep on - don't give up now - you're almost there - you've almost overcome this struggle - VICTORY is on the way! It is so easy to judge when we have not been there.  We've not walked in that other person's shoes. We can't possible understand the whole situation because we look on the surface and seldom bother to look below the surface to see the real struggle. 

Will we always have struggles and difficulties to overcome?  I think we will but just remember . . . "God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome.   What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them."

"But those who wait on the Lord shall
renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31

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