I love my ESV. Josh bought me a beautiful little two-tone Bible in the English Standard Version for my birthday this summer, and lately I have been noticing what a special translation it is. I have been reading really familure passages in a whole new light with this beautiful new version. For instance, Psalm 23 becomes fresh with these words:
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside waters of rest. He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His names' sake. Even though I walk through the valley of deep darkness, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You annoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Only goodness and steadfast love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall return to dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
A girl in our youth group and I were discussing these verses (it was our assigned reading in the WOL Quiet Time) and really enjoying ourselves as we envisioned being sheep. It was so refreshing and precious to discuss what all the Blessed Shepherd does for us! I especially liked thinking about the "waters of rest", most often quoted as "still waters", becasue I was feeling really overtired and strained last week, just from all the special events we had going on. I know that when I need it the most, the Lord will lead me to the waters of rest where I can truly rest, knowing He gave me this time, I am not wasting it (does anybody else feel like that? I bet you do!).
I always like Sunday to be a day of rest, really and truly, but it doesn't always end up like that! Somehow Sunday gets way overbooked, just like the rest of the days, and when it is over, you feel like you need a weekend! But I hung on to these verses, refusing to collapse and give in to grouchiness, because I knew my rest would come. And here it is! I had a nice long night of sleep last night, and all morning helping Josh to meditate on scripture, and pray. I feel serene and peaceful, knowing that the Lord, to whom I "lift up my soul" will provide what I need in His timing.
3 comments:
Very encouraging post. Thank you Gretchen. God does want us to rest in Him and it seems I've been on the go a lot "serving" with out the rejuvination period. So timely. So, you like the ESV? I've heard good things. I just get so confused. I don't know which one I want to memorize from...that's my basic problem. I do like the lilt in KJV, but then I'd need to explain it. decisions decisions...on the upside, I am memorizing :)
Don't you just love the conversations you can have with your youth. Sure they speak in Jr. High terms but we all can relate to what they are going thru...
g-knee, I'd memorize NASB or NKJV before ESV...especially since your church does not use ESV...
But the ESV has a nice lilt, too! I certainly prefer the flow it has over NASB, which was my previous preference.
Read a couple of the Psalms in ESV -- SO pretty!
Yes, I love those conversations around scripture! It is fun to see them get excited about reading and knowing the Word for themselves, personalizing it.
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