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Teaching -
Word Of The Week
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Written by Debbie Dommel
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Sunday, 28 September 2008 15:51 |
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How often we seek the Lord' guidance and then go about making our own plans and ask, even demand that he bless them and give us our heart's desires.
Recently I lost my teaching position because of downsizing. So as I prayed about what is next in my life and looked at the wide range of possibilities - I found what I thought would be the perfect next step and started pursuing that job.
One minor detail: When I first knew I was losing my job, I asked God for a word - Just one word I said. And just one word was what I got - Jubilee. Very appropriate for one who will be 50 in the Lord in November. Jubilee is not just a Sabbath year, but a Sabbath of Sabbaths. Teachers often take sabbaticals. Here was my opportunity for a Jubilee - year of rest.
Now finances dictate that I work, at least that's what I think. And hence I was looking for a new job. It was one I knew I could do, and one I would like. So I pursued it and ask God to give it to me. I was so close - the final offer was delayed - and in that delay God spoke once more - and this time I heard and really listened. This job would leave me exhausted at the end of the day - Exactly what kind of Jubilee is that? Ok, so I finally got it.
The Jubilee year is the 50th year. Every 7 years the land of Israel was to have a Sabbath rest - for a year, much like the Sabbath day. After 7 - 7 years (49 years) God called for a Jubilee year. During the Sabbath year - fields lay fallow, and God provided for Israel to carry them through till the next harvest. With the Jubilee, fields would lay fallow for both the Sabbath and the Jubilee year. God promised to provide till the time of the next harvest. So to celebrate a Jubilee you need to trust God to provide your needs.
So where am I now? Learning to trust God, to rest in Him. Resting in God so that he can work in me in His own way, so that he can give me the keys to the treasure he has prepared for me, so that I can experience the joy of his presence.
Psalm 131  from the Message Bible:
1God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain.
I haven't meddled where I have no business
or fantasized grandiose plans.
2 I've kept my feet on the ground,
I've cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother's arms,
my soul is a baby content.
3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
Hope now; hope always!
Lord, I have tried to rule the roost,
I have meddled where I have no business,
I have fantasized grandiose plans
Forgive Me!
I want to keep my feet on the ground,
I want to cultivate a quiet heart,
I want to be like a baby content in its mother's arms,
I want my soul to be baby content in you.
Pray that I wait and hope for you.
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