Over the last several weeks, I’ve really been challenged to “lean back” and not to “press in!” I’ve spent my entire life pressing in and trying to make things happen on my own terms. Yeah, trying to control as much as possible. I started to do an inventory of my day and how many times I press in and try to make things happen instead of leaning back and letting things come to me, while trusting God. God gave me a vision of “reclining with Jesus,” like Mary, instead of making things happen, like Martha. What a beautiful picture of peace and serenity!
Imagine if we “leaned back” when while engaging people with more questions and got to better understand their perspective and didn’t force feed them with OUR AGENDA. Passionate evangelists may be judging me for even insinuating that we “lean back,” but I know first hand that being pounded over the head with an agenda, (and even the Bible) rarely leads people to embrace Christ with a deep passion! AND, at 58 years old, I’m actually learning to think for myself by reclining with Jesus and trying NOT to have all the answers for myself and others. It’s acutely more peaceful to NOT try and be the smartest guy in the room (not that I ever was)!
Psalm 37:3-7 AMPC
Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday. Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
Listen to this song by called Lean Back by Jesus Culture and think and pray about how you will lean back into God’s loving arms and take a deep breathe and know that He is good and a lover like no other!
I hope this helps and you’ll take more time this week with God!
Love you!
Have a great week!