Our soul begs for rest from it all and we chase hope. A parched soul needs renewal in the midst of trying to catch a breath between hard headlines in the world – and the hard headlines in our own story. We are surrounded by those who are worn down with a heavy world. So how do we encourage their hearts and our own? The season of Lent seems to shake winter out of our heart to create space for the hope of Spring. The resurrection of our soul.
What impact does the time leading up to Easter have on you?
The Lenten season is a sacred invitation and reminder that our only hope is Jesus. We may have personal thoughts on this, but we can agree it’s not about a 40-day ritual from ashes to lilies, but about an everyday lifestyle abiding within. As we learn, lament, self-examine and fast idols, it is taking another step in the holy footprints leading closer to renewal at the cross. But, we have to take the time to be there.
Peace is the fruit of silence and stillness.
Think of the last time you (and I) sat still-silent and took a personal inventory – a non-edit honesty with no excuses or defenses before the Father. An absolute soul-restorer, is the reminder from Psalmist David in 139 to: ask God to search me and know my heart, to see if any grievous way in me. So, the other day, I purposely had to take a sabbatical in my head and just turn down the noise. I spent the day reviewing and renewing – not running away, but running to.
I’m a big believer in journaling. I’ve devoted the majority of my ink to collecting praises, because nothing seems to unscramble what covets the space in my head like writing it down on pages to hope. And then, intentionally reviewing the space that belongs to God’s faithfulness throughout the hard moments in the past, to walk through the hard moments of now.
Psalm 100 tells us that we are the sheep of His pasture and God restores our soul. My prayer for you and for me, is to look into the mirror of His Word, the reflection of answers that offers wholeness and restoration in a broken place. Here.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want ~ He restores my soul. Psalm 23
Verna
Thank you Verna💝
Thank-you, Verna, for this very thoughtful reminder of seeking restoration for our soul. I loved your phrase, “it is taking another step in the holy footprints leading closer to renewal at the cross.”
I wish you a blessed Lenten season.
Thank you Verna,
Praising God for the Light and Life God’s Word brings to us in hard times like the days we are living in…and writing them down in the midst of our individual stories brings a peace and steadfastness, only He can give. Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and forever. Bless you dear friend.
Blessed words -thank you, Glenda. Goodness and mercy — ALL the days, on the good and the not so good, because he is faithful.