The “Be Still” theme I shared last week continued for me this past weekend. I was grateful to spend a day in the solitude, being still, at Lake Ontario. I spent about eight hours on the shore with my chair, Bible, and notebook; it would have been even longer, but darkness started to move in. It was a wonderful time of just “being” with the Lord and reflecting.
The shoreline consisted of mounds of stones and some boulders. To get to the beach, the challenge is to climb down the various boulders and stones making your way whatever way you can. It was amazing to see all the stones and the beauty of all their different colors, shapes, and sizes. Most of them appeared to have smooth surfaces from their travels through the water. I was overcome with the beauty of the shoreline and thinking how our lives are so much like those stones. We come in all colors, sizes, and shapes having quite the journey through the path of life. Sometimes we have smooth times in life and sometimes life becomes jagged. However, we are all beautiful too!
Despite it being October in NYS, I decided to follow the prompting to venture to put my feet in the water. Due to the massive number of rocks making it difficult to walk without slipping around, I decided to sit on the rocks, take my sneakers and socks off, and scooch closer to the water. Immersing my feet in the water made me feel like one with the water. Eventually, I stood up. Viewing the vastness of the lake before me, I soaked up the feeling of the water against my feet and ankles as God’s presence and peace filled my spirit.
As I sat on the shore of the desolate beach, it was easy to imagine some scenes from Bible stories.
I thought of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River.
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” –Mark 1:9-11 (ESV)
May we remember, at our baptism, we too were called “beloved.” We are God’s precious child made in His image. May we live lives knowing God is “well pleased” with us.
Looking down the shoreline, I envisioned Jesus calling, “Come, follow me.”
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. –Matthew 4:18-20 (NIV)
Jesus extends that same invitation to you and me! May, we too, always be open to drop what we are doing to follow Him and put Him first in our lives.
I thought about Jesus calming the turbulent water of the sea when a big storm came.
But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. –Mark 4:37-39 (NLT)
When the storms come crashing into our lives, Jesus is right there with us, just as He was with the disciples. Sometimes He will tell the storm to “Be Still” immediately. Sometimes we experience His calmness and peace deep in our hearts despite the storm raging around us.
I thought of the trees that grow near bodies of water.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. –Psalm 1:2-3 (NLT)
May our lives be like the trees planted along the riverbanks. May we bear fruit for God every season in our lives, doing His will and sharing His goodness. If we keep the Lord at the forefront of our lives and meditate on His Word, the leaves and fruit of our lives will prosper. We will keep producing the choicest fruit.
Be encouraged this week to reflect on knowing…
- …you are God’s beloved.
- …Jesus says to you, “Come, follow Me.”
- …Jesus calms the storms in your life.
- …you can produce the choicest fruit.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” –Isaiah 55:1-2 (NIV)
