May 14, 2014 Learning From Mother And Child
Wednesday May 14, 2014
King David was a mighty man who won many battles. He had political power not only over his soldiers but also of all the citizens. He was a great man. However, King David knew his place before God. He knew how to rely on God. He knew that God was in control of things David couldn't control, and had wisdom way beyond anything he could hope to attain himself. One day God helped David describe all this in a picture -- a young and vulnerable child resting against his mother's breast. God showed David, just as a child finds contentment and peace with his mother, so David’s place with God was to simply be calm and quiet and let God nourish his heart and mind with everything he needed.
Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—now and always. Psalm 131 NLT
You and I live in a world where we are supposed to take charge and seize our destiny. We are encouraged to be pro-active in this area and that, work hard, do more for less, have vision, learn to think big. While there is certainly a time to set goals and work hard, there is also a time to know where we ultimately must root ourselves. That place is in the care of God who calms and quiets us like a mother quiets a young child. We need to make it our first priority to receive the food and love that God is giving, to be encouraged and comforted by God's near presence, and to hope always in what God is doing even when our circumstances say something else.
Just as a child needs to be fed several times a day, so we need to come to God regularly for guidance and support as we navigate the tasks and relationships around us. Life’s problems are regularly way too complicated for us to sort out on our own. Thankfully, God knows that and reminds us in this Psalm that we are to simply bring these things to God and quit worrying about them ourselves. They are too great and too awesome for us to grasp. We need to turn over our concerns to God who will take care of things for us.
Take time to look at a mother and a small child today. Learn how to welcome God's loving care into your life as you reflect on what you see and on what King David has reminded us in Psalm 131.
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