The year 2013 had hardly begun before I felt as if I needed a vacation. A house renovation, a book launch, a trip to Ethiopia, and two speaking trips to Australia had left the year with little free space. In the midst of the busyness, I picked up a book one night and found this delightful paraphrase of Psalm 23:1-6 by Japanese poet Toki Miyashina:
The Lord is my Pacesetter, I shall not rush. He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals. He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity. He leads me in ways of efficiency, through calmness of mind, and His guidance is peace. Even though I have a great many things to accomplish this day, I will not fret, for His presence is here. His timelessness, His all-importance, will keep me in balance. He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity by anointing my head with the oil of tranquility. My cup of joyous energy overflows. Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours, for I shall walk in the place of my Lord, and dwell in His house forever.
Having visited Japan and seen its rushing masses and its countryside overtaken by shopping malls, this is a wonderful paraphrase of the original psalm for a society that knows little of shepherds and meadows (Psalm 23:1-2). But it’s more than that. Like the original psalm, the poem is a reminder for people like me—who easily get caught in the grip of rush and hurry—that God is unrushed and His guidance is unhurried.
I need to stop and meditate on this for a while.
The Lord is my Pacesetter, I shall not rush. Even though I have a great many things to accomplish this day, I will not fret, for His presence is here (Psalm 23:4-6).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Nehemiah 2:1-20
More:
Read 2 Peter 1:2 and consider what it says about what God brings to your life.
Next:
How are you prone to rush forward with your own plans rather than resting in God? How can we live out God’s peace when life seems so busy?
ehdlive on April 29, 2014 at 4:01 am
Yes, Sheridan.. because the Lord is our pacesetter, He never wants us not to recognize Him in every affairs of our lives. To be aware that it is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose, makes us more attentive to the fact it is really He who directs our tempo if we would just cooperate and listen to Him.
Sheridan Voysey on April 29, 2014 at 10:25 am
And like me, you’ve prbaly realised that when we rush we almost never recognize His presence in our lives. Thanks ehdlive
Gene on April 29, 2014 at 7:25 am
Oh how we need those green pastures and still waters, or whatever images work to describe our stillness before God, as he restores us as only He can. Thanks for saring this perspective, Sheridan.
Sheridan Voysey on April 29, 2014 at 10:25 am
‘His timelessness, His all-importance, will keep me in balance.’ Yes!
tgustafs on April 29, 2014 at 10:43 am
Sheridan, I need this reminder as much as anyone! I’m learning ways to build in small respites to my schedule. Always doing and never being is not how God designed us.
Sheridan Voysey on April 29, 2014 at 3:58 pm
Oh me too, Tim. It’s a constant battle for me, but when I get the rhythm of rest and work, prayer and activity right I really am in the ‘zone’.
GChoo on April 29, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Sheridan, thank you for this timely devotion. My christian work colleague was lamenting this morning that she didn’t have time for any other things due to her workload. I shall send this paraphrased Psalms 23 to her and pray she will realise the need ‘to stop and rest for quiet intervals’ and to dwell in God’s presence to be refreshed and restored. Same goes for me too. God bless.
Sheridan Voysey on April 29, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Quiet intervals is the key. We can all make room for one or two of these each day.
fiona on April 29, 2014 at 5:16 pm
Thanks Sheridan. This is a beautiful poem and timely reminder to be still.
alseeking on April 30, 2014 at 3:27 am
Thanks Sheridan for this wonderful daily reading.
I wrote to you last year as I had found a great book given to me about being in God’s peace. The book is by another Christian writer, Tony Horsfall and is called ‘Rhythms of Grace’.
It’s a book for people feeling ‘burnt out’.
Our Lord can & will refresh us, but we need to let him.
Sheridan Voysey on May 1, 2014 at 5:10 am
I’ve heard of Tony but haven’t gotten to read the book. Sounds great. Thanks again alseeking
daisymarygoldr on April 30, 2014 at 3:34 pm
The paraphrase is wonderful. “Pacesetter” is the poet’s word. But God used the word “shepherd” in the original psalm. This word picture is not from the psalmist’s own thinking but was given by the Holy Spirit. God’s word is an expression of Himself. God chose a shepherd to reveal Himself as The Shepherd of His sheep.
Jesus declared Himself as the good shepherd not a pacesetter. Guess why? A pacesetter can provide you with images of stillness but cannot sacrifice His life to give you perfect peace that passes all understanding.
One can live the most unrushed life and yet know no rest. We do need rest for our bodies but the real need is peace in our souls. Jesus Christ is the shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).
King David lived a hectic life and in the midst of restlessness he experienced His Shepherd making him to rest in green meadows and leading him beside peaceful streams.
Want peace? Come to the God of peace—the great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20). Only He can give us peace and physical rest even in the hustle and bustle of our fast-paced lives.
Winn Collier on May 4, 2014 at 5:21 pm
I like this poem/prayer, Sheridan. Thank you.