Tag: Holy Spirit

Rest

This morning we are in our caravan on a very quiet site in Somerset, with a little river running by a meadow.

Unusually, the English summer weather has been very dry and hot, so the surrounding pastures are a brownish yellow – not green at all.

Early this morning grey, low cloud covers the landscape; although it is still warm.

View from caravan

Even the land feels stressed right now. Certainly there is great anxiety and stress in the world. The news is unremittingly gloomy and depressing and there are wars and rumours of wars all the time. Truth, goodness and righteousness are in very short supply.

Many people are looking for rest. Primarily, I believe, rest for their souls. Only God can supply that.

So, as I, Kate, reflected this morning, a poem emerged. It’s a bit rough and ready but it is really a prayer. Here it is.

Rest 

In a world on high alert, the news so full of stress
We need a place of resting; a place of knowing less
A place of restoration, where souls and bodies heal 
A time for really letting go of all the things we feel

Surrender isn’t easy, when going through the mill
The psalmist spoke of pastures green and waters that are still 
But there we need a laying down, releasing anxious thoughts
A time for giving up the fight of all the “shoulds” and “oughts”

We need a time with Jesus, sweet Shepherd of our soul 
To pour out our anxieties, so He can make us whole 
Stretch out Your Hand, Lord Jesus, and touch our deepest need
We want to be with You alone and follow where You lead

Come, precious Holy Spirit; refresh our inmost parts
Please overwhelm our thinking and calm our racing hearts 
Indwell our fleshly beings; transform us and renew
And clear our mental focus, till we see only You 

So, Lord, these verses are a prayer; appealing for Your rest
Please minister Your love to us; we’re asking to be blessed
Today, beloved Jesus, stretch out Your healing hand 
And by Your precious Spirit, bring rest into our land 

“Our hearts are restless, until they rest in You”. St Augustine of Hippo

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
Psalms 23:1-3 NIVUK

PS. Roger and I now have another blogsite, too. It’s called Hope and Glory. See www.kingdomheritageproductions.com

Thank You!

First an apology. I think that my last post was a bit discouraging and that’s not the purpose of this blog. My intention is to encourage. Thank you all for your love and prayers for me.

And, a special thank you to Angela in California, who picked up my personal mood in my last post and sent me a card, across all the miles between us, with a wonderful verse.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Overflowing Hope

I wanted to share that verse with all of us and to pray it for each person who reads this blog.

At a time when the world is in turmoil, and there are wars and rumours of wars, we need the strength and power of that deep relationship with God, the Father, through Jesus and Holy Spirit. I’m asking the Lord to fill me and refill me with His Living Water so that I can be a source of His life and love to those whose lives I touch.

Here’s my prayer today.

Lord, we thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit, giving us supernatural connection to the Source of all true hope, joy and peace. You are our Source. You cause Living Water to flow in and through us. Refresh us all with Your Spirit of hope, joy and peace and also with love and life in all its fullness. We want to overflow with Your hope and Your life in us so that others may know that You, Jesus, are the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by You.

This day we offer You all our worship and ask You to lift us up on eagles’ wings to soar in the power of Your Spirit!

In the Mighty Name of Jesus!