This month write out a Messianic Psalm of victory (Psalm 22), a song of Divine deliverance (Psalm 46), the longing, grief, and pleading of captives (Psalm 42), and God’s intention to bless Israel (Psalm 67). Join in the Psalmists desire to feel God’s nearness and His strength and stability.
It is a bit of a contrary thing that often we are drawn to God not necessarily because of His goodness, but because of our pain. It may be hard to appreciate our dependance on Him when life is going well and we are happy and carefree. But when trouble comes to us in all its various forms, that is when we want God to be near.
Pain is something we all shrink away from, and we long for the day when “there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). It is hard to comprehend that pain may be good for us, but Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:9 that pain can have a purpose, that it can cause us to repent and change our ways, it can remind us that we are not in control. Just as physical pain can ironically keep us healthy by alerting us to problems, it can keep us spiritually healthy by reminding us that we cannot save ourselves.
So often when Jesus healed people during his ministry, he touched them. He not only healed them, but he reached out and physically connected with them. He was never aloof and superior when he dealt with people, no matter who they were or what state they were in. Similarly, God’s desire was to dwell with His people (Exodus 29:45), to hold them up (Isaiah 41:10), and although “He wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal” (Job 5:17-18 NLT).
Consider how touch allows us to experience the world, how touch can soothe pain and offer comfort and allow us to empathize with others.
Notice Creation!
Where I live, July is mid-summer and there is plently of growing and flowering and producing going on. You can feel the life in everything — it surrounds you and makes you feel more alive yourself.
- Look for colours in your neighbourhood. Collect a bouquet of wildflowers to put in your home.
- Touch the plants you come across (avoiding those that may be irritants). Notice their texture.
- Take time to smell the flowers and the fragrance of the trees and plants around you.
- Visit a farmers market. Touch the produce available and take some home with you.
- Listen to all the insect activity going on around you. Watch them to see what they are doing.
