Contentment

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Matthew 8:20

I'm reading through the New Testament this year and in reading in Matthew, I am reminded of Jesus' response to the teacher of the law's proclamation in Chapter 8:

"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
To which Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:20

I read a commentary that said, "Jesus was functionally homeless"...the commentary went on to say:

"These same passages mention two others who had similar discussions with Jesus. In each case, Jesus made the point that there is a cost to following Him. The scribe who said he wanted to follow Jesus wherever He went was not considering the lifestyle Jesus led. The scribes were among the wealthier citizens. It was as if Jesus were saying, “Are you sure you want to be homeless with Me?”

Jesus just picked up and went....at his Father's instruction he moved. He had nothing to tie him down. He was FULLY available, COMPLETELY willing and OUTRAGEOUSLY obedient and He had freedom to be who he was called to be.
I want to be like Jesus!! I'm not saying I want to be physically homeless. I'm saying I want to be available, willing and obedient. Metaphorically speaking I want my home to be the heart of Jesus.

I wrote in my planner yesterday, "Jesus, let this be the year I learn to rest in the peace that only you can provide."

The hardest part for me is learning to be still and wait.....that does not mean I'm a lump, sitting on my couch! NO! It means that I am ACTIVELY waiting for his next instruction, WILLINGLY accepting that instruction and obediently MOVING.
AND I have to set my mind on the FACT that it's likely not going to look, at all, like I think it should.

Take yesterday as an example....I never left my house. How in the world was that pleasing to God? At the end of the day I assessed my day and in my view, meh....nothing spectacular.....but if I ask the question, "Was God pleased?" I believe he was. I spent a good amount of time reading and writing scripture, got my planner up to date, prayed, nourished my body with good food choices and found myself actively listening for God's instruction. I ended my day by crawling into bed with thanksgiving and praise on my lips. Yes, even when I want to put pressure on myself to go out and make a big splash for His kingdom God gently reminds me that there will be days (maybe weeks, months and years) when it will be the sweetness of communion between just him and I. There may be times of big splashes and there may be times of tiny ripples but I don't need to focus on the "how much". That's not my "job". That's FREEDOM! Freedom to BE!

•BE present
•BE available
•BE still
•BE ready
•BE willing
•BE obedient

Sometimes God may call me to be still. I need desperately to learn that being still actually IS actively pleasing him. I am available, I am listening and I am willing to MOVE when he says move. Can I truly be content with what he has for me? I want to believe I can be and I do have the desire. I will ponder that question for a time......God's working in me the ability to be still is definitely a journey. One not easily "fixed" in a day...this I know ....
The REAL blessing is that I don't have to DO anything (my definition of DOING).....Praise God! He's got this! THAT is how I rest in the peace that God provides.

May it be so in 2022