This is the day that the Lord has made I will be glad and rejoice in it. (Psalm 118:24)
And rejoice I did, several times from the Wednesday till the end of Sunday morning. Jesus had arranged a special, for me only, retreat to recharge me from the weariness of my day-to-day routine.
It all started last Wednesday when I met a friend for tea at a little café. Arriving there before she did, I looked in my purse for my cell phone and realized it had been left at home. (It wasn’t until later that I realized just how nice it was to be out without any strings.) My friend arrived and we had some real wonderful chats. In fact, God exercised His wisdom and His revelation through me several times during the conversation.
After the visit, I left to go and do some errands. After completing a couple, I remembered that my sister had given me two $25.00 off coupons if I spent a certain amount of money. So I headed off to that store and received a second pleasant surprise – they were having a “BOGO” sale. It took me a while but for some reason I felt really relaxed (godly peacefulness) and decided to try on many articles of clothing. What a special gift, I had to let my sister know that God had worked through a present she had given me to make the day more special.
Then I finally did the shopping that I had went to town for. When I arrived home I was so excited that I shared with my husband how the day had felt like a Sabbath, a real pause from what I normally do
I was so full of thankfulness for how much God cares for us even in the small things.
And to add even more bonus – I was able to take most of the day off Thursday to putter around the house, enjoy another friends company for breakfast Friday morning and then head to my parents for an overnight visit with family. And for the icing, was able to go to Church on Sunday and see 10 people making a public declaration of their faith in Jesus through baptism.
God really does care about us.
Remember Elijah, he was running away from Jezebel who was trying to kill him. He was completely exhausted. And what did God do?
First Kings 19:4-8 “[Elijah] went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough (or “I am exhausted” or “I am done!”); now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”
Jesus is waiting to help us – even in the small practical things that make our lives better. Let’s keep our eyes open to God’s presence so we don’t miss it
Father God please gift each person reading this note with their own personal extraordinary day of rest and recharging. Thank You so much for caring enough to provide me with what I needed most – a day out with no obligations. Thank You for Your presence which goes with us and provides us with rest (Exodus 33:14). In Jesus’ name amen.
