Guard Your Time with God and Take A Breath

Psalm 23 is an important theme associated with 5786.

It will also be a time to let out the tent pegs and get ready for God to expand us as we spend time with the Shepherd, feeding on lush nutritious pasture and relaxing beside the cool still water. 

Take A Breath

During the year 5786 it will be important to take a breath and rest in the loving care of our Redeemer. Rest when it’s time to rest so we will be fully revived before the dawn of the new day and we step into our new assignment.

This is a time to make sure we aren’t getting worn out. And if we are weary we need to stop and get some refreshment from the Lord.

 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30 NASB

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives strength to the weary, And to the one who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. – Isaiah 40: 28-31

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost. Revelation 22:17

Enlarge the Place of Your Tent

Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes deep.- Isaiah 54:2 BSB 

It will be a time to work on our personal connection with God. Enlarging your tent, your personal space, will be about taking personal time and time spent with God. This will be a time to sit with the Shepherd and receive much needed nourishment and sustenance to keep going. Don’t get hooked into picking up responsibilities that are not yours. This may sound a bit corny but it is a time to just be a sheep.

Say No

Codependents (those who struggle with saying no) need to be alert to not get wrangled into picking up jobs, tasks and favors for others that take away from their much needed self care or pull us away from our personal time with God. This is not a time to be over committed with errands that take us away from home. This is a time to see to our own tent so to speak. 

We need to discern with whom and what is ours to pick up in this hour. Recently, we had a family member who has been estranged for years suddenly show up. This person has spent their lives taking advantage of others, sucking the life out of everyone they come in contact with. They seem to always need someone else to pick up the bill so to speak. Here me out on this. Not everyone who is in need is trying to take advantage. But there are those who have a long history of using others to their advantage. It is those I’m talking about here, not the ones who genuinely need a helping hand. It is up to us to be discerning.

Just know that the life suckers will be coming out of the woodwork to attempt to reconnect. These are the ones who always have a sobstory. They don’t just play on empathy, they see it as a weakness to be exploited. My point is, it is going to be more important than ever to steer clear. Whatever we do, we need to make sure we aren’t getting hooked again.

The enemy is going to attempt to reconnect us to people, places and things that we have already walked away from. Don’t get fooled. God is not sending us backward. He is getting ready to catapult us forward. We need to be unencumbered from that which has defeated us in the past.

Don’t Get Derailed

It is also important that we do not let efforts empowered by a fleshly need for approval and acceptance to derail us. Don’t let guilt drive you to do more than what you should be doing.

Get Refreshed

Take time to let the Spirit of the Lord refresh and recharge your inner man. This isn’t a time to be running all over the place. It’s a time to pause. And this pause is one that has a home focus. 

Watch out for ways the enemy is working through the subtly of persuasion to guilt you into taking on projects, or enterprises that are not yours. Don’t let ego get in the way of wisdom. The enemy will be using tactics to try to derail and keep the saints from communing with God and resting. He will try to convince us that if we avoid public involvement we will lose our progress and connection with others. 

Jealously Guard Your Time

This isn’t about self indulgence. I am talking about making sure we jealously guard our time with God because the enemy is going to try to pull us out of it and get us focused outside of home. Our own self care is important.

Self indulgence is not the same as self care.

Self-care and self-indulgence, while often confused, represent distinct concepts essential for our overall well-being. Self-care involves intentional actions taken to maintain and enhance our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Self care focuses on our primary needs such as proper nutrition, rest, exercise, and emotional support. Ultimately, self care recharges us. It empowers us to live life refreshed and invigorated rather than stressed and spent.

In contrast, self-indulgence emphasizes momentary pleasure and gratification that may lack long-term benefits. Self indulgent behavior can actually lead to neglect of our responsibilities or health. The fleeting satisfaction that accompanies it manifests in various ways, such as overindulging in food, excessive shopping, or prolonged hours spent on entertainment. It may give what seems like temporary relief it does not contribute to our overall well-being.

Where self-care nurtures and restores, allowing us to thrive in both body and mind, the excess of self-indulgence distracts from our genuine needs, potentially resulting in negative consequences that can affect our relationships and emotional stability. It has the potential to create a cycle of guilt and shame, exacerbating feelings of anxiety or low self-worth. Understanding the difference is crucial as we navigate through life’s challenges with a sense of purpose and resilience that comes from mindful self-care rather than impulsive decisions.

Take Time to Get Spiritually Fed

In order for us to be healthy sheep feeding in the Lord’s pasture we need to take time to spend with Him. We need the nurishment that comes from spending time in His presence and feeding off His Word without the trappings and expectations that come with religious guilt.

The religious system prevents people from communing with God. It uses guilt, condemnation and shame to coerce people into doing activities that serve the system rather than spending time with our Shepherd Jesus. The religious system wants a sacrifice. God, on the other hand, doesn’t ask us to sacrifice our health and well being in order to please Him. We please Him because we are His.

Make Home Priority

During this year of 5786 we need to hold firm boundaries to ensure our personal time with Jesus, self and family takes precedence. This is a time to have a special focus on our residence. This is not to say that its okay to neglect home at other times. It’s just that this year is a time to not let outside activity eclipse what God is doing at home. 

Multiplication Will Bring Expansion

The expansion God is bringing will happen as we take advantage of this pause. While we spend time one on one with Christ feeding on the goodness of His nature and resting beside the still waters we will experience everything He has for us this year.

We are going to need the spiritual expansion gained this year as we go forward.

If we don’t take the time this year to be enlarged by God by taking an intermission, allowing ourselves moments of reflection and renewal, then we won’t be as equipped as we need to be for going forward. This pause is essential, as it provides us with the opportunity to recalibrate our spiritual lives, to deepen our understanding of His guidance, and to prepare our hearts and minds for the challenges ahead. By intentionally creating space to connect with God, we enable Him to work within us, transforming our perspectives and equipping us with the strength and wisdom necessary to navigate the future with confidence and grace.

For those who take a break and vacation at God’s river side cafe this year they will be enlarged and equipped with everything they need for the journey ahead. 

Through this season of reflection and rejuvenation, let’s embrace the opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and prioritize the nurturing of our inner selves.

By consciously guarding our time with the Shepherd, we can find rest in His presence and gain the strength needed for our journey ahead. As we expand our personal spaces and step away from distractions, we become more attuned to His guidance and capable of fulfilling our divine purpose.

Remember, this pause is not merely a break—it is a divine invitation to grow and thrive in God’s love and provision. Let’s take a deep breath, find peace beside the still waters, and trust that through this time of renewal, God will equip us for all that lies ahead, preparing us to step boldly into the future He has in store.