Return to Rest

Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. – (Psalm 116:7, NIV)

My soul, relax! The Lord is caring for you. – (Psalm 116:7, ERV)

O my soul! Return and relax. Come to your true rest, for the Eternal has showered you with His favor. – (Psalm 116:7, VOICE)

Though Thor woke me at the usual time, there is something in my soul that settled this morning as I came upstairs to feed him and begin my usual morning routine. Perhaps it is the realization that I have a break from work for the next two weeks, or the recognition that being Saturday, there is a slowdown in the pace. Either way, my soul felt more at rest as I sat down to read than it is has in quite some time. Despite the busy and crazy of the last several weeks, the Lord has been good to me. He has strengthened and encouraged me, loved me through my fears and discouragement, and surrounded me with people who love and support me well. For this and so much more, I am incredibly grateful. Whatever the next two weeks holds, I pray that you will find rest and relaxation amidst the busy, and that You will be acutely aware of the Lord’s goodness and care for you.

Today, O my soul,

Embrace the sweet rest;

Provided by God,

Who knows our needs best.

In kindness, He holds,

Us each in His hands;

Supplies what we need,

To in His strength, stand.

No matter what comes,

He will remain near;

With strength, peace and love,

He holds us each dear.

Each heart, He blesses,

As we seek His face;

His love is outpoured,

And flooded with grace.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You provide the rest we need when we need it most, and You pour out Your blessings upon us. Forgive us for forgetting just how blessed we are in knowing You. Teach us to count our blessings and to embrace the rest that You provide. Show us how to encourage and lift those around us as we choose to love like You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord. Be glorified O God, as we relax in the rest that You provide and praise You for Your overwhelming blessings as You grant us strength, peace, hope and love anew every morning. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. – Psalm 62:5

Incredibly Known

He counts the number of stars; He gives names to all of them. – (Psalm 147:4, HCSB)

He counts the stars and knows them each by name. – (Psalm 147:4, ERV)

He counts all the stars within His hands, carefully fixing their number and giving them names. – (Psalm 147:4, VOICE)

In my own limited understanding, I know I am guilty of making God too small, or limiting what I think He can do. Verses like the one above are a reminder of just how big God really is. God, the Creator of all, created, placed, counted and named each of the stars in the sky. I don’t know about you, but any time that I get away from the city/suburb lights and look at the sky at night, I stand in awe, as the longer I look, the more stars I see; far too many to count. It is a reminder of how great God truly is. The same God that knows each star by name, knows my name and the number of hairs on my head. Intentionally, He formed each of us and knows us better than anyone. Designed with a plan and a purpose, I cannot help but stand in awe. The more I know Him, the more I want to know. One who knows and loves so deeply and personally is worth pursuing more. May we ever seek to know the Lord more and more, and may we discover how He sees us and calls us to be who He has created us to become.

Each star with a name,

Both numbered and known;

The Lord placed each one,

Love’s light being shown.

He who hung the stars,

Also made us all;

With plan and purpose,

Each one of us called.

May we choose seek Him,

With wonder and awe;

Praise Him for His love,

And grace for us all.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You created, placed, named and know each star in the sky – both those we can see, and those we cannot. Thank You that You know each person on the planet in the same way. Forgive us for making You too small. Teach us to trust You in all things, for You are so much more than we can think or imagine. Lead us to love those around us with a love like Yours so that all might feel and know Your goodness and grace. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we ever pursue knowing You more, and trust You in all things and at all times. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

But whoever loves God is known by God. – 1 Corinthians 8:3

Learn and Grow

Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, or how the bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you don’t know the work of God who makes everything. – (Ecclesiastes 11:5, HCSB)

Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, so you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does. – (Ecclesiastes 11:5, MSG)

You can no more predict the path of the wind than you can explain how a child’s bones are formed in a mother’s womb. Even more, you will never understand the workings of the God who made all things. – (Ecclesiastes 11:5, VOICE)

Though we cannot possibly understand how everything works or why all things transpire, we can come into a relationship with the One who does. The very same God who made all things is willing and wanting to be in relationship with us. I am in awe of all of the beauty that His hands have made, and the depth of His love that He has for all of His created. Each day is a new opportunity to learn and grow, and He is faithful to show us more and more of who He is and how He loves. As we learn, He empowers us to love likewise. May we embrace the grace that God freely gives, and seek to know Him more each day, trusting Him even when we do not understand why things happen.

Though we cannot know,

All things of the Lord;

We can know His love,

And grace He affords.

He made all of us,

With purpose and plan;

Will to discover,

The work of His hands.

Each day that we seek,

We learn and grow more;

How deeply God loves,

And good that’s in store.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we cannot possibly fathom all that Your hands have made and how all things work, we can know You and trust in Your goodness and love for all the days of our lives. Forgive us for our fears and doubts in spaces where we cannot understand the “why”. Teach us to trust in You in all things and at all times, for You can work all things together for good, somehow. Show us how to love those around us well, and lead us to be Your hands, heart and voice to those who might not otherwise see Your goodness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we love You and praise You for who You are and all that Your loving hands have made. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Compel me to grasp the way of Your statutes so I will fix my mind on Your wonderful works. – Psalm 119:27

Pleasing to You

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. – (Psalm 19:14, HCBS)

May my words and thoughts please You. Lord, You are my Rock, the one who rescues me. – (Psalm 19:14, ERV)

May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my Rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer. – (Psalm 19:14, VOICE)

This is an ongoing prayer, for above all else, I long for my words, thoughts and deeds to be pleasing to God. It is a lifelong process to pursue to live a life that pleases the Lord. Despite our best intentions, our own ugliness and sinfulness stand in our way. To think, act and speak in a way that is pleasing to God requires dependence on Him to lead and guide us in all things. Our most challenging places to focus on what pleases Him seem to come in the areas of our lives that we have not fully submitted to His hands. It is in our spaces of full surrender that we discover our words and our thoughts align with His, as He strengthens and supplies us with that which is good and pleasing to Him. May we ever seek the Lord in full surrender, allowing Him room to lead and guide us in word, thought and deed so that we may honor God in all things. 

O Lord let my life,

Photo by Lukas Rodriguez on Pexels.com

Be pleasing to You;

With every thought,

All I say and do.

Show me Your goodness,

Fill me with Your grace;

Lead me to love well,

Throughout all my days.

Help me Lord Jesus,

To rely on You;

Each word that I speak,

And in all I do.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are love and You are grace. Thank You that as we seek and depend on You, You show us what is good and pleasing unto You. Forgive us for our spaces of self-reliance, for it is in those spaces that we choose poorly. Teach us to completely surrender all to You, for it is in that space of surrender that we discover Your heart and help for all that lies before us. Show us how to love those around us completely, so that they may discover the light and life that You alone are offering. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we are intentional to seek You in all things to lead and guide us to love like You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Now may the God of peace… equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen. – Hebrews 13:21

Plans vs Purpose

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. – (Proverbs 19:21, NIV)

People might make many plans, but what the Lord says is what will happen. – (Proverbs 19:21, ERV)

We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails. – (Proverbs 19:21, MSG)

The impulses of the human heart may run wild, but the Eternal’s plan will prevail. – (Proverbs 19:21, VOICE)

We can make plans, but if we are not in tune with God’s intent for us, He slows us down and reminds us again of His purpose. It is when we seek to live and love as we are called to do that we are walking out His plans and His purposes for our lives. His plan for us is made evident when our words and deeds point hearts to Him. God does not plan for bad or difficult things to happen to us, but when we persevere and trust in Him, He will use those things to grow, strengthen and refine us so that we more clearly reflect His heart to the world. If our plans are to honor and serve God in all that we do, then His purpose for us will prevail. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us through every season and circumstance, for in doing so, His plans shall prevail.

When we lose our way,

Or find ourselves blind;

Unsure what to do,

The Lord will be kind.

His hands hold us up,

And He’ll lead us through;

Trials and triumphs,

His love’s always true.

Let us seek the Lord,

To show us the way;

To live our lives well,

For all of our days.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we have plans and ideas in our heart as to how we want things to go, Your plan is greater and is always for our good. Forgive us for trying to navigate things on our own, rather than seeking You to lead us well. Show us how to place all in Your hands so that we may walk the path that You have placed before us with Your strength and fortitude. Lead us to love others well, for when we seek to love You and love people, we remain on the path that You have prepared for us all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we place our hopes, dreams, expectations and plans in Your hands and trust You to lead us in the ways that fulfill Your purpose each new day. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

To Run Well

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. – (Hebrews 12:1, NIV)

We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. – (Hebrews 12:1, ERV)

As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. – (Hebrews 12:1, TPT)

Though this was written to the early church to encourage and guide believers, the message remains true today. One thing that stands out to me is the idea of being surrounded by people who are great examples of what it is to live a godly life. It takes intentional investment in people to be surrounded by those who help lead, guide and walk beside us in the way that God is calling us to live. Next, we have to let go of previous harm to move forward. It is an intentional decision to forgive and give it to God. To do so does not mean that we have to forget what we learned or jump back into harmful spaces, but rather we must release the burden of hurt, anger and grudges, and choose to forgive and place it all in His hands. Additionally, we must be intentional to walk away from that which leads us astray. As a runner, I love the analogy of life being a marathon. We do not want to do things along the course that will inhibit our ability to run well. The same is true in life. The things that lead us astray, move us off course, or weigh us down, do not help us run our race well. Labor-intensive running is not fun or beneficial, and often leads to injuries. God has already mapped out our course, our job is to keep running in the direction to which we have been called. Our pace is set by Him, and it is never too fast nor too slow. His timing is perfect. May we ever be intentional to surround ourselves with those who encourage us to run well, let go of that which leads us off course, and persevere on the path which God has placed before us.

Let’s surround ourselves,

With those who live well;

In life and in love,

As faithfulness tells.

Let go of past harm,

With purpose, forgive;

Give it to the Lord,

In freedom to live.

Stay clear of the things,

That lead us astray;

And follow the course,

God grants us each day.

Let’s each run our race,

Stay true to the course;

God’s set before us,

Our Strength and our Source.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us and equip us to run the race that You have set before us. Thank You that You instruct us to surround ourselves with those who are running well and can help pace us to stay strong. Thank You too, for showing us to throw aside all that weighs us down or leads us off course. Forgive us for allowing the things of this life to distract us or steer us off course. Teach us to surround ourselves with those who are running well and to keep our eyes on the course You have set before us. Show us how to be an encouragement to others and to love all well so that they too will be encouraged to continue to run the race You designed for them. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we each rely on You to lead us to run our own race well. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. – Proverbs 4:12

To Be Acutely Aware

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. – (Psalm 34:8, NIV)

Give the Lord a chance to show you how good He is. Great blessings belong to those who depend on Him! – (Psalm 34:8, ERV)

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see – how good God is. Blessed are you who run to Him. – (Psalm 34:8, MSG)

Even in the midst of the hard and the horrible, God remains good. He surrounds us with His goodness and provides His peace when it ought not be found. Yesterday, I found myself in the midst of a horrible mom moment. My son was not doing well, and it was clear that an ER run was going to be needed. Unfortunately, due to the nature of his symptoms, no one was permitted to be with him. Having to drop off my heart outside my body and place him in the hands of someone else’s care, was gut wrenching. It matters not that he is a young man; he is still my child. We waited in the parking lot for hours. At first, we were hearing nothing. I had my phone and noticed that he was active on social media, so I tried messaging him that way. Incredibly, it worked, and we discovered a way to communicate. After x-rays and a laundry list of tests, they determined that he was to be admitted. My heart sank, and I had no choice but to trust. From discussing the treatment plan to learning to be an adult and advocate for himself, God has been showing me His goodness. When my heart did not know what to pray, He still heard me. Though it is still extraordinarily difficult to not be with my son, I see evidence of God’s goodness surrounding him and all around me, and trust that my boy is exactly where he needs to be. May we ever seek the Lord and trust in His goodness, for He holds us up in His hands.

The Lord, He is good,

We need taste and see;

He surrounds with love,

And grants us His peace.

The Lord makes a way,

When we cannot see;

What way is the best,

He meets all our needs.

Today I choose trust,

I will taste and see;

Goodness in action,

And know the Lord’s peace.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good. Thank You that we simply need to open our eyes and hearts to all that is around us to be acutely aware of Your love. Thank You that as we seek You to be our help and hope, You hold us up in Your hands. Forgive us for our frustrations and fears, for You love our children even more than we do. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times. Show us how to love those around us in ways that make Your goodness and love visible and tangible. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we taste and see how good You are, and run to You to be our shelter and perfect peace. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” – Psalm 91:2

Qualities Clearly Seen

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that the people are without excuse. – (Romans 1:20, NIV)

There are things about God that people cannot see – His eternal power and all that makes Him God. But since the beginning of the world, those things have been easy for people to understand. They are made clear in what God has made. So people have no excuse for the evil they do. – (Romans 1:20, ERV)

Opposition to truth cannot be excused on the basis of ignorance, because from the creation of the world, the invisible qualities of God’s nature have been made visible, such as His eternal power and transcendence. He has made His wonderful attributes easily perceived, for seeing the visible makes us understand the invisible. So then, this leaves everyone without excuse. – (Romans 1:20, TPT)

I am fortunate to live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Any direction I drive, there is incredible evidence of God’s power and creativity. From the majestic mountains that surround the Puget Sound, to the towering Evergreen trees that line roads wherever I go, I cannot deny the power and majesty of all that His hands have created. The very same God who hand-crafted such beauty, formed everything and everyone that draws breath. To look in the face of others, is to witness the handiwork of God. Knowing that is the very beginning of walking the way that we are called to walk. If we see and recognize the beauty and value in all that God has made, we cannot help but want to love as He loves us. May we take pause and breathe in the goodness of all that God’s hands have made, and give thanks to the One who created it all. Let us look to Him to lead us to love well.

The truth is made plain,

Through all that we see;

All things formed by love,

Intentionally.

The powerful hands,

That made mountains rise;

Gave each creature life,

From earth to the skies.

Show us how to love,

Appropriately;

So Your love’s made known,

Through all that is seen.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that all of creation sings of Your glory through its mere existence. Thank You that You are the same God who called mountains to rise and the very One who grants us life and breath and love. Forgive us for neglecting to notice the obvious evidence of Your power and love. Teach us to recognize the beauty in all whom we encounter, and show us how to love as You call us to love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give You praise for all that Your hands have made that clearly show us Your love and power that is present all around us. Amen. 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Radiance of His Nature

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. – (Hebrews 1:3, NIV)

The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature, and He holds everything together by His powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then He sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven. – (Hebrews 1:3, ERV)

The Son is the dazzling radiance of God’s splendor, the exact expression of God’s true nature – His mirror image! He holds the universe together and expands it by the mighty power of His spoken word. He accomplished for us the complete cleansing of sins, and then took His seat on the highest throne at the right hand of the majestic One. – (Hebrews 1:3, TPT)

Though no one has ever seen God, numerous people spent time in the presence of His Son, and witnessed His power and His very being. Jesus lived out a perfect life so that He could be the ultimate sacrifice, once and for all. After His death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus took His place at the right hand of the Father to continue to move on our behalf, as He provided His Holy Spirit for all who invite Him in. The more we pursue the path that He has placed before us, the more our hearts begin to mirror His. May we ever seek the Lord and be intentional to invest our time into growing in our understanding of Him, so that we may more clearly reflect His radiance to the world.

God’s great radiance,

What’s holy and true;

Shown to all the world,

Through Christ who makes new.

His power, perfect,

Held up in His hands;

Seated on His throne,

With purpose and plan.

Cleansed by His mercy,

Made new in His love;

May we ever seek,

Christ the Lord above.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to show us who You are and how You love. Thank You Jesus, that You demonstrated what love truly is. Forgive us for neglecting our relationship with You, as You are the way to live and love in a way that reflects Your heart to the world. Teach us to trust You and follow after You with all that we are. Show us how to love those around us in the same way that You love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we see You through the Savior, Your Son, and ever seek to be a clear reflection of Your love to the world. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. – Colossians 3:1

Hope and Rest to the Seeking

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. – (Psalm 62:5, NIV)

I must calm down and turn to God; He is my only hope. – (Psalm 62:5, ERV)

I am standing in absolute stillness, silent before the One I love, waiting as long as it takes for Him to rescue me. Only God is my Savior, and He will not fail me. – (Psalm 62:5, TPT)

Rest and hope are two things that all of us need. Sometimes, the need for rest has nothing to do with the physical, and everything to do with our heart, mind and soul. It is God’s hope that brings peace to our places of unrest, as He restores us in His love once again. In this seemingly never ending lockdown, I am so thankful for the hope that is held in Him. Though we know not what will come of the pending changes, we can trust the One who holds the world in His hands. God is good, and His love provides and in Him, hope abides. May we ever slow down and turn to the One who ever holds hope and provides rest where we need it most.

In stillness I come,

Before God our King;

Hope is held in Him,

Maker of all things.

Where rest is lacking,

The Lord will provide;

He stills all our storms,

And brings peace inside.

When hope’s all but lost,

We need never fear;

For God in His love,

Remains ever near.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our space of rest and hope forever. Thank You that no matter how we come, You meet us with open arms and bring us into Your loving embrace that provides the peace our hearts need most. Forgive us for continually running, rather than slowing down and turning to You to be our hope and rest. Show us how to rest in You to find the hope that our hearts need. Lead us to love well, all those around us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we come to You for rest and place our hearts in Your hands; for in You, hope is forever found. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope. – Acts 2:26