A Settled Soul
Opening Prayer
Calm and quiet your soul before God as you prepare to meet him in his Word.
Read Psalm 131
1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide
Reflect
Does your mind ever race at night? How is it possible to settle your soul?This little psalm from David gives us a beautiful picture to ponder. We do not know what great matters he is referring to in the first verse. It could be matters relating to his role as king, or God’s great plan of which he was a part, or it could well be following on from the wonder of God’s forgiveness and unfailing love from the previous psalm.
The point is that David was neither full of his own importance nor concerned with matters beyond his ability to grasp. Instead he had the mature faith of one loved by God. And that mature faith, surprisingly, is illustrated with a little child.
Notice that this is not a nursing infant, but a weaned child. There is a difference. A nursing infant will cry and grab at his mother for what he needs. A weaned child is settled with his mother and her presence is all he needs. Whatever the illness or the bad dream, if his mother is close then all is well. This is the child who will leave his toys to just peak into the next room to make sure mother is there.
The believer who really understands the wonder of their salvation is able to fully trust in God and not live in stress and constant anxiety. If God is holding me, then all is well.
Apply
If you belong to God, if you are in God’s family, then God is holding you, and all is well. Rest in that truth today.
Closing prayer
Lord, may I receive Your tender love today, even as the love of a mother: holding me, wrapping about me, protecting me.
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