Trust in him, and he will act.

This has been a busy week here in Haskell.  We've had meetings, three open house nights at school, church activities, and an unexpected injury around here.  I've discovered that ministry is like that.  Some weeks are quiet while others are hectic.  Most of life is like that.  We go through times of busy-ness and activity and other times of slowing down and "normal" activity.

During those normal days, it can be fairly easy to remain in the Word of God, pray, and keep focus on Christian discipleship.  But the problem with that is that our devotions can become rote; we do something because we always do it.  On the other hand, during those times of busy-ness and activity it can be hard to remain focused on our walk with the LORD.  We can get so busy that we begin to drift away from where we were.

Then there are those times that we do everything we know to do.  We pray every day.  We read our Bibles and keep our minds focused on the Father's ministry.  Even in the midst of those times, it can seem as though we don't hear from God.  It can seem that we are simply spinning our wheels and that we are doing this all by ourselves.  That is where I've been this week.  In the midst of all of this activity I have continued to seek the Kingdom of God.  I have remained faithful and yet God has seemed distant this week.  Maybe it's because I have been so busy that I have failed to really look to see where he is active in the midst of ministry, family, and life.  Perhaps if I were to just slow down even in the middle of the busy schedule I would see how he is actively involved in what is going on around me.

When I start feeling like this I like to look to the Psalms.  In the 37th Psalm, the psalmist writes "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.  Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.  He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.  Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices" (3-7).

What the psalmist is saying is what we, as the people of God, should do is to continue doing what we know we are supposed to do.  The LORD is there with us...he continues to be there in our midst even when he seems far away.  He is acting for us, in us, and through us.  He is ministering all around us, even if we can't always see how his plans are coming together.  In West Texas we have a saying, "Keep on keepin' on."  That seems to be what the psalmist is telling us here.  Even if it seems as though we are doing this discipleship thing alone, God is with us.  Even if we fail to have the eyes to see and the ears to hear, the Holy Spirit is active.  He is going out and preparing the way for us so that we can join him in ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.

This song by Barlow Girl is one that helps to remind me of the truth of Psalm 37.  This kind of song might not be what some of you typically listen to, but I hope you listen anyway.  The lyrics always encourage me in my daily walk, even in the midst of silence.



Until next time...

+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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