SHELTER

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  Psalm 91:1

This is the theme for the summer.  Shelter, what does the Lord's shelter look like? If I dwell there, in his shelter, I am promised rest in His shadow.  What does that look like as well, to rest in His shadow.  I bet Christians might respond differently all over the world to these questions.  Above is a common shelter here in Nigeria, is this what they picture when they hear this verse?

Lately, I have felt so pensive, not very funny.  I want to be funny, I want to laugh and have fun, but there is something blocking the way.  So much on my mind.  So many distractions.  My thoughts are all over the place.

I want His shelter.  Not my image of it either, I want the real thing, and then honestly I want the rest that can come with it.  I don't want to settle for my fake imitations that last for a brief moment.  John and I were long distance in our relationship for about a year and when we would get an opportunity to see each other we would push everything else to the side and just "hang out" and "be together"  and then when Sunday dinnertime would show itself, I would get this feeling of let's go see a movie (something that would cause at least two more hours together so he wouldn't leave right away) or let's talk serious so we would have to finish it before he would venture home.  I would want to lengthen the time by any excuse.... you know the feeling of panic, so you grab on tighter thinking it will secure it and make "it all go away" whatever it was that you were wanting to push aside or lengthen, depending on the emotion at the time.  For me it was wanting to push the feelings aside of leaving John, and therefore wanting to grab onto our time together no matter what the cost.    I guess what I am saying is that could be my version of a false shelter.  Wanting to put something over my head to temporarily make me feel protected and "good".  I don't think that is what God's shelter is all about.  I know that tendency and I also know it has never allowed me to rest.  

So, I want to learn of His shelter.  I want to learn of the fruit of rest that comes with it. (Gosh, lots of "I wants" huh?  Yuck that is ugly in and of itself).  Can I pray my way into His shelter?  Is it a frame of mind?  I cannot imagine it being a tangible place, is it really just about relationship?  

Well, these are the questions I start this summer with and look to His Scriptures for answers and lean on the Holy Spirit for leading and ultimately look to God for it is Him that I am really seeking, ultimately, isn't it?