Read Psalm 131:1-3
The "retreat reentry syndrome"—there's nothing worse. You've been away on a youth group retreat. It's been an awesome time with your friends and an awesome time with God. There was great music, beautiful scenery, and some neat people. You've laughed more, cried more, done more (and slept less) over the last few days than you thought was humanly possible. You've come home totally exhausted, with a sore throat, and you've completely lost your voice. What a wonderful time of renewal and refreshment!
But sometimes that return to real life, that "retreat reentry" can be pretty painful. You have to come back home—back to the "real world"—the same old school, the same old job, the same old family, the same old hassles.
The writer of Psalm 131 has been there.
Psalm 131 was sung by people who were making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This trek would have been a major spiritual retreat in the life of a Jewish pilgrim. The nearer a pilgrim got to Jerusalem, the more exciting it was.
Finally, when the pilgrim reached the great city, there would have been days and nights filled with celebration (Psalm 132:13-18), fellowship (Psalm 133:1-3), and worship (Psalm 134:1-3). We're talking summer camp, winter retreat, and missions trip all rolled into one!
But the writer of Psalm 131 is smart enough to know that even the best retreats end. Sooner or later, folks go back home. And he wanted to make sure that he wouldn't crash at the end of this experience. He determined not to make a place or an event the focus of faith, hope, or joy. Like a child who has been weaned from his mother, the faith of the psalm writer matured beyond the constant need for the marvelous and the amazing. He set his hope in the Lord.
Think About It
Unfortunately, life is not a summer camp or a winter retreat. Occasionally, God gives us those terrific times of great fellowship, worship, and celebration. But we can't allow ourselves to become addicted to the marvelous.
Where is the hope and joy in your walk with God? Are you waiting for the next retreat or camp or marvelous moment? Or are you finding contentment and hope in a God who is with us 365 days a year?
Pray About It
Lord, help me to be weaned from a constant need for the marvelous. Help me to set my hope in you.
Daily Reading Plan—Read 1 Timothy 3
God's Word for Students.
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1 comment:
I love feeling good and I know you do too. It is always easier to do whatever needs to be done if I feel like it. I feel like writing this blog so I write it and it feels good.
Sometimes I don’t feel like writing the blog. I write it anyway. Why? I believe God wants me to encourage people and He wants me to do this no matter how I feel. I understand that if I only do the things I feel like, that is a childish behavior. The Bible teaches, when I was a child, I acted like a child; when I grew up I put my childish ways behind me.
I love it when I feel God’s presence and would like to stay on the mountain top. But the truth is growth doesn’t happen on the mountain top but in the valleys, and going up and down the mountain. I am glad that God is with me even when I don’t feel His presence. I am glad God is with me no matter where I am. He teaches that without faith no one can please God. Walking with God, talking with God, doing the things of God, even when I don’t feel like it, when I don’t feel His presence, that is walking by faith, and that pleases God.
What going on in your life? Don’t let bad feelings or no feelings get you down. Stay true to what God has called you to do and He will be pleased with you. And what difference does anything else make as long as God is pleased with you? Here’s to not being Addicted to the Marvelous!
Living by faith,
PS
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