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Out In the
Meadow With God
Isaiah 44:3-5 (NIV1984)
For I will pour water
on the thirsty land,
and streams on
and streams on
the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit
I will pour out my Spirit
on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up
like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’;
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’
and will take the name Israel.
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’;
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’
and will take the name Israel.
While I was on vacation recently I had some very quiet days. I was staying at my sisters home in the country. She and her husband have a lovely piece of property with tall pine trees and horses and pastures. I found I enjoyed walking out into the meadow at various times with an old blanket to sit on. I would also bring my bible and my note book. During that time I would sometimes pour my heart out before the Lord and other times I would lay on the blanket and watch the clouds move across the sky while I listened to the Lord or simply rested in his presence.
When we come to him thirsty he promises that he will pour out water, and cause streams to flow through those dry and barren places in our lives. I know I had some dusty dry places that needed some watering. Sometimes it is good to break away from normal day to day grind and take a little time to be out in the meadow with God.
The first week I was on vacation my kids were at camp - so it was really quiet during the day. I love how the verse today says "I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants." As a mom that is important to me. I want to know that the Lord is going to pour Himself into their lives as well as my own. That he is going to bless my decedents. My kids had a great time at camp and came home tired but I can see a new stronger walk with the Lord growing up out of the seeds that were planted during camp. What a wonderful promise about our decedents. "They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams." I want my children to have deep roots of faith that will reach down to the underground streams for living water. So that even during times of spiritual drought they will be able to bring living water to those around them who are thirsty.
I guess that is my prayer for all of us. That we would take time to find those quiet times of refreshing in the Lords presence so that we are not trying to minister on empty. There are lots of great things we can try to do for God but if we are not abiding in him - we won't be producing much in the way of fruit. It is easy when we try to do ministry on our own strength to burn out. Perhaps that is you today. I urge you to stop and find some alone time with the Lord. Allow him to re-fill you. Maybe you can't take a week of vacation but maybe you can take some mini praise vacations. A praise vacation is when I put on my head phones or lock myself in my car and listen to praise music and allow the Lord to refresh me. I remember reading about one woman who had many children who would throw her apron over her head and her children knew not to bother her because she was talking to God.
Dear Lord,
Help us find those places of refreshing in your presense. Be an owais in the desert for us today. Lead us to streams of water and let our root reach down deep into you so that we may not dry out.
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