Tag Archives: David

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Cultivating Calm Among the Christmas Chaos

Whoooosh!

A cold breeze blows by and bites the skin with a bitter, rushing reminder; it’s the season of cluttered calendars followed by scrambling steps just trying to keep up.

There’s a stream of shoppers scurrying with frantic concern to check off a list that is only growing longer.

The inbox and mailbox multiply with messages by the minute; invites, greetings and the lure to splurge on one last spending spree.

Anything slow-moving or stopping is a buoy to weave around.

Pressing the peddle just to keep up, this speed increases now by the second, beyond limits that are warning to slow down; signs of a sneeze and sniffle, or worse, the numbing compassion for an unshaved man sitting on the corner with his newspapers in hand trying to make a dollar for the day.

At Christmas, it feels like there are no seconds to spare to silence a restless soul.

The beats of my heart tick with urgency to cross off a competing list for attention and tock with a wrestling soul caught up in distracting demands. My prayers grow heavy and deep; the tears wet with sorrow that I’m not just living in the world anymore, but have become the world.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 131:1 NIV

How can we cultivate a calm, quiet, peaceful soul that lives at rest in the swirl of insanity that encompasses Christmas? King David figured it out.

Make peace the desire of your heart.

When life gets busy, it’s easy for our emotions to get trapped in a timetable tornado plotted out in people, parties, and plans. Recognize the hurricane of hurriedness and ask yourself, How is my soul? Am I at rest? Do I have peace? Is there a quiet heart here? Earnestly pray for this peace.

Worship where you are.

Do you want a quiet Christmas spirit? The starting place is to get into position. To find sanity and clarity for his soul, King David set the world aside and worshipped the majesty of God.

The hand of Peace quiets the restless heart. His breath calms an aching spirit. He is the sure and steadfast anchor in swirling soul, a hope that can pierce the innermost place. His arms of peace wrap around every pain and rein in the racing thoughts.

In His warm embrace, find a place with no agenda. Of all things in the universe, you are the object of His obsession and designed to crave time with the Maker. This is where contentment is kept. When we abandon the world’s fractured appointments and embrace His calm and quiet spirit, the companionship of our Creator quenches this thirst for rest and frees an enslaved soul.how to cultivate a quiet soul

Relinquish control.

I have a tendency in the midst of my turmoil to take matters into my own hands. I struggle with the pressure of pride, It’s up to me. I’ve got to do something about this. I’m going to get it done. I’ve got to work it out. I’ve got to handle it. I’ve got to take care of it.

The only safe and sane place to be is in surrender, yielding all control, ambitions, dreams, and desires to a God who stitched your soul and is still seated on the throne over creation. God, I trust that you have my best interest in mind. This is what peaceful, healthy living feels like on the inside.

Realize you’re not in control. You’re not in charge and ultimately, you’re not dictating your days. God has numbered the days. I may make my plans but the Lord directs my steps. Release the stress of trying to control the uncontrollable.

Keep Christ the center focus.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:2

We did not earn God’s love, we were born into it. This relationship with God is not on worth, it’s by birth. Like a child in its mother’s arms, my soul is calm and quiet because I am content in who God is and the royal family image I am sewn in.

Sometimes the unsettling of a soul comes from living out of other people’s perception of who you should be, how your hours should be spent or even, how you want to be perceived by peers. But the truth is we cannot occupy ourselves with everything that offers itself to us. We are stewards of our own soul. We must set limits and the boundary lines that cultivate the calm and quiet soul.

Heavenly Father, Almighty God… You are my desire in the midst of all the craziness surrounding Christmas. Cradle my soul like a weaned child, so I can experience and enjoy the embrace of my Father. As I tackle the traffic, run my errands, and finish these last few days of work, soothe the ache of being rushed when I’d rather be still with you.

When the demands increase and the noise gets louder, may a collision with Christ in your soul change the world instead of the world altering you.

If you are struggling with the stress of this Christmas season, I pray you discover profound peace and the calm that quiets your spirit. May God spark a fire of unshakable joy in the small spaces salvaged for your stretched soul. May the Lord infuse clarity and sanity in this place. May He nurture the heart in you that is steadfast and sold out for His people. May your eyes stay open and your mind looking for ways to engage those hurting around you.

May we all be reminded often this holiday season to remain committed to connecting others with Jesus. May you live from a genuine, and authentic spirit, devoted to the design God dreamed of in you.

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Living With Certainty

Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Take a census of all the people of Israel—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—and bring me a report so I may know how many there are.” God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” 1 Chronicles 21:1-2, 7-8 NLT

I sat stumped with questions after reading this verse this morning in my quiet time. Why did David take this census? Fear? Pride? David defeated a giant already, did He not trust the Almighty would have his back in this fight too?

In 2 Samuel it says God allowed Satan to tempt David with this census.

I think David immediately wanted to assess his military strength. Sounds wise but this suggests David is more concerned in his own capabilities than God’s power.

Where is this man’s confidence? Of all people, wouldn’t we think Donatello's David Renaissance statue in Florence ItalyDavid’s reliance on God would be so concrete after his epic victory over ‘the’ giant?

I think this shows no matter how many battles God goes to bat for us, and no matter how huge these victories are, we continually forget how powerful our God really is.

We have not grasped the fullness of faith in our Conqueror, when we walk in a world that measures success by the size of it’s competition.

I feel this way in the midst of difficulties; I am tempted to doubt. I too ‘take a census’ to size up the giant I’m up against.

In the pay raise I don’t get but undoubtedly deserve; I’m tempted to measure my success in dollars saved to the company and present a new argument to the committee.

In the stillness of being alone; I’m tempted to gripe about the misery and depression (which I believe I’ve already done here).

In the looming deadline of a dream project that I’m trying to find time, and inspiration for; I’m tempted to blow off every interaction with friends and family to force the free spirit.

But, when I give into the temptation, it makes me worry even more.

So I’ll go first, starting today, with certainty in the power of Christ instead of a ‘census’.

It’s time to throw off the enemy’s temptation to doubt and rest on the Truth of God’s Word. And if I do need reassurance in God’s hand of favor, I’ll just look back at all the Goliaths my Mighty Warrior has helped me defeat!

Are you living with certainty or still taking a census every time you come up against a battle?

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What Are You Preparing For

We all have dreams, ambitions and life aspirations; personal goals, career objectives and community/world impact are just a few areas. For the most part, we probably have a vision of what that path looks like to achieve them, but sometimes a bump in the road throws us off. When it happens to me, I run to God with a long list of questions ‘what did I get wrong’… ‘what then are you preparing me for’? The other night though, He answered back, ‘what are you preparing for?’

Here’s a story I was recently told. Famous UCLA basketball coach John Wooden led one of the greatest dynasties in sports history, winning 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years. Toward the end of his life, he was asked what one day from his storied career he would choose to re-live if given the chance. Wooden said he would conduct one more day of practice in the gym because “each day of practice was, by far, the most fulfilling, exciting, and memorable thing I did as a coach. That’s where I taught those under my supervision how to achieve success as members of a team.”

I think about David and Goliath. Before the big showdown, there was the setup. David spent his youth shepherding day in and day out. Even after Samuel anointed him King of Israel, David didn’t take the throne until many years later. On that infamous battle day, David was only a shepherd boy, equipped with a testimony of God’s help in the field to fight a lion and bear in order to protect the sheep. That was the preparation David needed to stand with his sling and shoot down the beast-that was a man God prepared to be king before he ever took the crown.

I think about some of the more ‘simple’ desires of the heart; becoming a great spouse, parent, leader or disciple. When we can’t tangibly see or be in the moment requiring greatness, it’s difficult to find motive for daily preparation. But truthfully, we don’t become a great spouse the moment we say ‘I do’. Every day prior to the altar, we must choose to be diligent in our journey with this goal in mind.

Here’s what that looks like for me. Instead of pouring a bowl of cereal for a single gal, I make a conscious effort to prepare nutritious choices. With that same vision in mind, the company I keep is full of female friendships and wisdom, as I’ve learned to let go of male relationships. Like David, these days are the testimony of God’s preparation in me to be a great ‘queen’ or bride. I’m choosing to walk today in regard to the choices I will make tomorrow.

So what are you preparing for? Tomorrow starts with today.

Tonight

My future is worth it. Pear, arugula, balsamic flatbread with pine nuts and mozzarella cheese.

Earlier this week

My future is worth it- Eggplant, fresh sage and aged asiago cheese. Asparagus, mushrooms, onions, peppers topped with tomatoes, white wine, fresh basil, cracked pepper and olive oil.

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Thoughts For Life’s Journey

George Matheson of Scotland echoes the discipline of his personal despair in his discipline of his personal despair in his book Thoughts for Life’s Journey when he book Thoughts for Life’s Journey when he writes: My soul, reject not the place of thy writes: My soul, reject not the place of thy prostration! It has ever been the robing prostration! It has ever been the robing room for royalty. Ask the great ones of room for royalty. Ask the great ones of the past what has been the spot of their the past what has been the spot of their prosperity; they will say, “It was the cold prosperity; they will say, “It was the cold ground on which I once was laying.” Ask ground on which I once was laying.” Ask Abraham; he will point you to the Abraham; he will point you to the sacrifice of Moriah. Ask Joseph; he will sacrifice of Moriah. Ask Joseph; he will direct you to his dungeon. Ask Moses; he direct you to his dungeon. Ask Moses; he will date his fortune from his danger in will date his fortune from his danger in the Nile. Ask Ruth; she will bid you build the Nile. Ask Ruth; she will bid you build her monument on the field of her toil. her monument on the field of her toil. Ask David; he will tell you that his songs Ask David; he will tell you that his songs came from the night. Ask Job; he will came from the night. Ask Job; he will remind you that God answered him out remind you that God answered him out of the whirlwind. Ask Peter; he will extol of the whirlwind. Ask Peter; he will extol his submission in the sea. Ask John; he his submission in the sea. Ask John; he will give the palm to Patmos. Ask Paul he will give the palm to Patmos. Ask Paul he will attribute his inspiration to the light will attribute his inspiration to the light that struck him blind. Ask one more-the that struck him blind. Ask one more-the Son of Man. Ask Him whence has come Son of Man. Ask Him whence has come His rule over the world. He will answer, His rule over the world. He will answer, “From the cold ground on which I was “From the cold ground on which I was lying-the Gethsemane ground; I received lying-the Gethsemane ground; I received my sceptre there.” Thou too, my soul, shalt be garlanded by Gethsemane. The cup thou fain wouldst pass from thee will be thy coronet in the sweet by-and-by. The hour of thy loneliness will crown thee. The day of thy depression will regale thee. It is the desert that will break forth into singing; it is the trees of thy silent forest that will clasp their hands.”