“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high;? I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:1-2 (NRSV)

I didn’t fully understand the picture David paints in Psalm 131 until recently. I had always been happy just to imagine being childlike with my Father. But a few months ago, my best friend started weaning her little girl.

When I visited with them before that, little Miriam was used to her mother’s milk. If you cuddled that darling girl, she would usually look for something to suck on while she rested. I understood that she was used to feeding while she cuddled, but when I held her I thought with a smile, “listen kid, can’t you be happy just to sit and be with me? Can’t we just enjoy this moment?” Now that Miriam has been weaned, she and my friend can both enjoy the love in the other’s presence. And not just that, but she can begin to eat solid foods and really grow the way she needs to.

It’s harder than I’d like to admit for me to sit in quiet and just be in the presence of God. When I pray, I tend to spend more time asking for things than in silent adoration. I can imagine God speaking to me, “listen kid, can’t you be happy just to sit and be with me? Can’t we just enjoy this moment?”

God wants so much for us to be satisfied in Him, and then to grow in Him too. Let’s spend more time adoring Him and receiving the good things that come with spiritual maturity.

O Lord, like David, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. Show me how to calm and quiet my soul in Your presence like a weaned child with his mother. I trust that You will always provide for me, Lord, help me to rest in Your arms without worry. In Your Son’s precious name, amen.

Take Action

In your prayer time today, take a cue from the 131st psalm. You know the Lord knows your needs, so spend your time in quiet adoration.

When you spend time with your Father, are you searching for what He might have to offer you? Are you constantly making requests? What steps can you take to wean your heart from worries and neediness?



Tags: sabbath Prayer