God Pause

Every day I receive a daily devotional in my email inbox through Luther Seminary called God Pause. I love receiving it in my email because my days vary so much in work and activities that I don't necessarily have 30 min of each day to spend doing daily devotionals, and I don't want to carry around a book with me all day to try to find time for it. However, each day there is certainly enough downtime to open my email and devote a quiet moment to thought and prayer. While some of you may think this is the slackers way out, it works for me.

I've save the ones that speak to me in one way or another, and I thought I'd share a few here from time to time. I thought this was perfect for today, as I am finding myself wanting a lot lately- new fall clothes, new upholstery for the furniture, a new job, a new workout routine, etc. The 23rd is one of my favorite Psalms, but I've never, ever broken it down to the individual verses. Who isn't always wanting for something? Am I trying to fill myself with things rather than God? How can I devote more of myself to his purpose rather than to internet shopping?

Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my Shephard, I shall not want

When given the assigned texts for this week I had to ask if today's reading was the entire twenty-third Psalm or just the first verse? To my disappointment, I was told it was only the first verse. It would have been much easier to write about the Lord leading me beside still waters to take a nap in a lush green pasture, instead of a single verse ending with "I shall not want." I do want...all sorts of things, all the time. That is why I/we need the first five words of Psalm 23, "the Lord is my shepherd." More than the words, we need the guiding presence of the One to whom they refer ("the Word"). When we are led by the Spirit we are not only free from sin and death, we can even experience freedom from our wants. (Well, except for the flat-screen TV I want, but God wants me to have that, right?)

Heavenly Father, leading Spirit, shepherding Savior, help guide me toward the things I need and that only you can give; eternal nourishment, rest and forgiveness. Amen .
Andy Jolivette
Associate Director of Admissions, Luther Seminary
Master of Arts, 2008