I’ve spent much time over the past three months trying to figure out how I am to “live for Christ”, “walk in the Spirit”, trust the Lord, etc. without doing anything. The Lord has sent many messages about relaxing, being silent, focusing on His Presence and giving Him control. Meanwhile I have struggled with fears about the future, how to keep busy and productive in retirement, finding a sense of worth when I am a non-contributing member of society.
In counseling this past week we talked about what it meant to ‘walk in the Spirit’ or ‘live by faith’. I admitted feeling good when I spend hours reading, studying and writing. But then I feel guilty or ‘non-spiritual’ when I spend most of the day with activities like cooking, cleaning or bill paying. We talked about Brother Lawrence who found ways to ‘practice the presence of God’ while doing mundane tasks like peeling potatoes. My counselor mentioned that the first century church was apparently aware of the admonition to ‘walk in the Spirit’ and were successful doing so, even though they had no Bible to read. And I was left with the same question: How do I do this?
During the night, when I awoke and talked quietly with the Lord, He introduced these thoughts:
“Just live — do what you find necessary — not lots of extras or new projects. Spend time in My Word. Talk to Me throughout your day and acknowledge that I am with you no matter what you are doing.”
“Rest and ‘abide’; I will do the planning and the working”.
“You are to be a vessel through which I can show Myself to the world.”
“Let me have control. I will lead you and teach you what it means to‘walk in the Spirit’.”
“Remember that My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. Rest in Me.”
This morning I went in search of Scriptures to support what I thought I was hearing from My Lord. I found verses like:
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:5)
For God … hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God …(W)e have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (II Corinthians 4: 6, 7)
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalm 32:8)
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me…and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29,30)
Then, because He created me and knows everything about me, as I was trying to write about what He was showing me, He reinforced His message with lyrics from a song!
…Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at my feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe…
So let your weary spirit rest
Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
Just breathe… (Breathe by Jonny Diaz
- Linda G
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