SelahV Today by hariette petersen

Drained Dry

Ever felt so empty, your thoughts --if voiced-- would float away like a helium balloon?

Edification escapes you.  Encouragement eludes you.  In fact... you are the wad of gum stuck to the bottom of a McDonald's table.  Worthless.  

It's not because you are worthless that you can offer nothing of worth.  It's simply one of those times your body screams for its own validity.  You need help.  And by "help", I don't mean a hand to lift you up, but one to keep you seated.  You don't need stimulation, invitation, or multiplication.  You need subtraction, not addition.

If you cannot help yourself; you need help to rest-- to restore your mind, body and soul.  Sleep helps.  Nutrition helps.  But more than anything you need rest.

Relaxation.  Meditation. 

I am there.

I am going to spend the next few weeks leaning on the Lord... surrendering to Him, allowing Him freedom and room to refresh my soul.  To heal my weathered body.  Let Him fill me up once again.

I must stay as far away as possible from negative people, negative things, and gloom and doom.  I need hope --not breaking news declaring the sky is falling.  I need respite.

When propane tanks are empty, the best of lighters cannot produce the fire it takes to grill an egg.  When the car runs on fumes, it doesn't run at all.  It takes no one anywhere.

While some folks take Caribbean cruises, fly to Hawaii, or rent condos in the mountains... I can only pull back my recliner, put my feet up and rest in the LORD's palm.  I can only lean on His promises and trust in His unfailing grace to sustain me.  Less is more.  Less stress is more energy.  Less activity is more leisure.  Less negatives is more positives.  Less noise is more quiet. Less chaos is more peace.

Yeah, I need less "world" and more Jesus.

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

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Some folks wake up running.  I'm not one of those.  I need to collect my thoughts a bit...have a cup of coffee (even if it is decaffeinated), and reflect on God's plan for my day.  If that doesn't occur, my brain freezes and before the sun heads to high noon, it dissolves into slush and I'm ready to fall asleep for want of a spiritual compass.

I'm one of those people who has the uncanny ability to go to sleep at night and dream problem solving ideas.  Anyone who has bizarre dreams wherein you find yourself in catastrophic situations, facing long lines, or running in a maze of confusion, you know what I'm talking about.  So when you wake up in the morning, instead of being refreshed and restored, you are plum worn out from battling wandering nomads in your mind.

I'm not one to dream about flowering meadows and sparkling streams of tranquility.  Nope.  I dream things that rival video games and virtual tours with Alice in Wonderland.

Therefore...

when I wake up, I need a bit of time to adjust to reality.  If reality slams into my brain before I've washed the sandman's dust from my lids, I'm in trouble.  The day rarely runs smoothly.  My internal clock runs counter productively and zest for life gets stuck on  PAUZZZZ.  It may appear to the world that I am awake, but my mind is still sleeping.  I'm on a perpetual teaparty with the Mad Hatter and feeling like "I'm late for a very important date".  I feel a bit like the Queen of Hearts and when anyone says anything--good or bad, "off with their heads" comes rattling to the forefront of my mind.

I don't like to read the morning paper, hear the morning gloom and doom from KSWO or Fox and Friends.  I'm not much interested in Austin Bowling, the weather in Oklahoma or the Good Morning show in New York City with staged storylines to shock and awe us into a new week of political chaos and financial destruction.

So, moral of my story is:  I need Jesus.  Every morning.  I need to sit by the still waters and lie in a green pasture.  I need to focus on His new mercies and not my old sins or the sins of others.  I need to sup awhile with the LORD and have a bit of breakfast with Him.  I need reminders that He is with me all day, every day.  I need to drink the Living Water of positives to renew my spirit and transform my mind.  Otherwise...

I may as well go back to bed and pretend I'm invincible in a world of make believe.  Fantasy is not reality.  Reality can only be managed by putting on the whole armor of God and traveling with the Savior by my side.  Hope springs eternal with Him.  And life clears the way with zest and zeal.  Sieze the day my friends.  Spread a little sunshine as you go.  If you have Jesus, you have the compass needed for whatever comes your way. ~~selahV