TO give heart and mind to God, so that they are ours no longer--to do good without being conscious of it, to pray ceaselessly and without effort as we breathe--to love without stopping to reflect upon our feelings--such is the perfect forgetfulness of self, which casts us upon God, as a babe rests upon its mother's breast.
JEAN NICOLAS GROU
I love the picture and emotional association this quote brings to mind. First and foremost because I recently saw it, I think of this. Oh, to be a days-old infant and have the kind of naive trust and security to rest upon the chest of someone you've only just met. I find myself thinking it seems God and I have just met, too, although as in the case of mothers who have dreamed of their babies since childhood and as in the case of God who had us in mind before the creation of the world, that of course isn't the case. Who better to rest our weary heads upon than the Lord? Parents will disappoint us and are far from perfect, but we have a perfect parent in God. We have promises upon promises that He'll never leave us, that He'll care for us, that He'll lead us in the way we should go, and that He will always love us. I think of my faith as a posture and I envision my head barely touching His chest, tensed neck, with arms draped over His sides in exhaustion.
Abiding in Jesus is not a work that needs each moment the mind to be engaged, or the affections to be directly and actively occupied with it. It is an entrusting of oneself to the keeping of the Eternal Love, in the faith that it will abide near us, and with its holy presence watch over us and ward off the evil, even when we have to be most intently occupied with other things. And so the heart has rest and peace and joy in the consciousness of being kept when it cannot keep itself.
ANDREW MURRAY
I am so relieved to hear this. I sometimes think abiding is constant focus. Thank You Holy Spirit for speaking to my heart on this. It is so encouraging to realize that even while I am intent upon our moving activities and house search that You are with me, watching over me, and available to talk at any time. Help Michael and I go about our many many duties this weekend in rest, peace, and joy knowing that You are our Keeper. I want to be diligent in praying for my husband because his position in our family is as protector and receptacle of godly insight and wisdom in making decisions for those You've entrusted to his care. I thank You that it's not my role or my responsibility. Help me be the complete helper that he needs. Let our love blossom through the stressfulness of our situation. We both love You SO much, Jesus. Be the Lord of our hearts, minds, and bodies.
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