I was out walking our dog yesterday morning, (Tobi – 57 pound lab who is 5 years old and very energetic) carrying all the gear that good dog owners take with them. She was on her leash, I had a dog treat bag with the required poop bag if needed, and the great dog throwing stick with the tennis ball. As I was walking I was trying to remind myself that I needed to breathe deeper, to let the benefit of deep breathing strengthen and sustain me better. I needed my oxygen saturation to be deeper and better to obtain all the benefits of this walk. During my walk I was praying and bringing to the Lord my great sense of being overwhelmed by the tasks he has placed in my life to carry. I was unpacking my heart in regards to the sense of feeling ill-equipped to stand in faith as I should when circumstances become so weighty. It was a great moment of God speaking grace and comfort to me and reminding me to breathe deep. Not only that I needed to breathe deeper for the physical benefits but also I needed to breathe deeper of His presence for the spiritual benefit. It was a simple moment, but one where I understood completely His provision of spiritual health over me.
The lesson went deeper as I stopped at the park to throw the ball with our dog. You see our dog has a problem, even though she is a Labrador Retriever she doesn’t seem to know how to retrieve a tennis ball. She will only retrieve the special ball that has slots for treats in it. She is motivated only by immediate, seen and guaranteed rewards. I have been working with her by putting treats under the tennis ball and trying to teach her to retrieve other items, but I throw them and she just looks at me while I wind up retrieving the thrown ball. I was getting so frustrated with her and exclaimed, “What is wrong with you? You were born for this, bred for this, you were created to do this.” Again I felt the Lord say to me, “This moment that you are in, where you feel so inadequate; you were born for this, created to do this. I am having to put bones under every place I want you to go just to get you there and coax you to do the very thing I created you to do, the very thing that should come natural to you.”
Psalm 119:65-80 (The Message)
65-72 Be good to your servant, GOD;
be as good as your Word.
Train me in good common sense;
I'm thoroughly committed to living your way.
Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place,
but now I'm in step with your Word.
You are good, and the source of good;
train me in your goodness.
The godless spread lies about me,
but I focus my attention on what you are saying;
They're bland as a bucket of lard,
while I dance to the tune of your revelation.
My troubles turned out all for the best—
they forced me to learn from your textbook.
Truth from your mouth means more to me
than striking it rich in a gold mine.
73-80 With your very own hands you formed me;
now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.
When they see me waiting, expecting your Word,
those who fear you will take heart and be glad.
I can see now, GOD, that your decisions are right;
your testing has taught me what's true and right.
Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!
just the way you promised.
Now comfort me so I can live, really live;
your revelation is the tune I dance to.
Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds;
they tried to sell me a bill of goods,
but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.
Let those who fear you turn to me
for evidence of your wise guidance.
And let me live whole and holy, soul and body,
so I can always walk with my head held high.
I am so humbled of God’s amazing grace to lovingly lead and teach me even in the most practical of ways. Committed to dance to the tune of His revelation!
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