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| Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay |
In Living Faith by Melanie Rigney, the author explained Jesus’ request for the multitudes to recline before he fed them the loaves and fish was significant. First, only free people reclined while they ate, not servants or slaves. Second, it was close to the Passover. Surely some individuals in the crowd noted the implication.
Also, Jesus performed his miracle after the men
stopped milling about. An indication we too might find a closer relationship
with God if we tried reclining/resting for a few moments in prayer and
meditation each day. The practice would lessen our stress, renew our energy,
and perhaps even revitalized our faith and hope.
This past week, a yellow jacket stung me while I was helping my husband
remove several nests from our back patio. Nasty stings. It takes 48 hours for
the poison to peak and 5 to 10 days for it to work out of your system. Because
of the location of the sting, typing was not comfortable, forcing me to limit my time at the computer. Up till then, I had been pushing myself to finish the edits on my newest novel. Was this God’s way of reminding
me to slow down? Maybe, especially after a friend noted the shape of my reaction
to the sting.
Now, I don’t believe it was God’s will that I was stung. He used that opportunity to remind me not to become so caught up in tasks, I forget it is a privilege to recline, to rest from constant activity. Especially when I often suffer from amnesia.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to
discipline me when needed, to guide me back to the right path, and to offer
assurance I am still loved even though I’ve strayed. Amen.
