Do you ever feel like you may be going in circles? Like your life has a familiar path? Or like you have to sometimes learn the same lesson over and over?
I think this is a normal part of Christian life with God. There is a rhythm to living your life with God.
The Bible tells us in Ephesians that we are seated in heavenly places with God. I think He is continuously inviting us to come up higher with Him and view things the way He views them. He desires a close relationship with each and every one of us. However, as long as we are on this earth, He alone can see the full picture.
Psalm 23:3 (TPT) “…He opens before me the right path and leads me along His footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name.”
The Passion Translation has a note with this verse that says, “It is a common trait for sheep on the hillsides of Israel to circle their way up higher. They eventually form a path that keeps leading them higher. This is what the psalm is referring to here. Each step we take following our Shepherd will lead us higher, even though it may seem we are going in circles.”
Let’s look at this coupled with the next Psalm, Psalm 24. Psalm 24:3-6 (TPT) “Who then is allowed to ascend the mountain of Yahweh? And who has the privilege of entering into God’s holy place? Those who are clean-whose works and ways are pure, whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth, those who never deceive, whose words are sure. They will receive Yahweh’s blessing and righteousness given by the savior God. They will stand before God, for they seek the pleasure of God’s face, the God of Jacob.”
If you are like me and sometimes struggle with performance Christianity, you will read Psalm 24 as a religious to-do list for how to qualify to ascend God’s Holy Hill. I think that is the equivalent of strapping on our rock climbing shoes, getting into a harness, and attempting to scale the rock. It may get us there eventually, but it will also be done in our own strength, which is not how God invites us.
However, as we see in Psalm 23, the Good Shepherd (Jesus) already has the right path marked out for us. We can follow in his footsteps of righteousness. In other words, we can get in his rhythm. And when we do, He will take us in a gentle circle around the mountain. As we climb, even though it may feel at times we are going in circles and seeing some of the same terrain, we are getting higher. We are ascending the Holy Hill closer to God.
In Matthew 11 Jesus is speaking. He says beginning in verse 28 (TPT), “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I am gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”
I think a large part of being in rhythm with the Lord is allowing ourselves to be joined with Him. Allowing Him to lead us in those right paths. Allowing ourselves to be yoked and partnered with Him as well as allowing Him to be the shepherd who leads and guides us.
Moses is one of my favorite people to study in the Bible. He knew he had a purpose. He knew he had a calling, but he tried to get ahead of his calling. He witnessed an injustice and dealt with it as he saw fit. This getting ahead of his calling resulted in him running into the desert and hiding for many years before he had an encounter with God.
However, at this encounter at the burning bush, he argued with God. Moses had disqualified himself. He wanted to deny his purpose. He no longer thought he was the man for the job.
Eventually, he agreed to go to Egypt and deliver the Israelites from Pharoah. He then spent the rest of his life in the desert, leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. Moses spent many years going in circles, both physically and spiritually.
However, Moses went from a man who argued with God about his calling to being a man who spoke face-to-face with God. A man whom God called His friend. Moses had an intimate relationship with the Lord. God met Moses where he was, and Moses decided to follow God in his right path. He experienced God’s glory here on this earth. Moses decided to get into God’s rhythm for his life.
Learning to get into God’s rhythm means allowing ourselves to rest in Him and what He has for us. That doesn’t mean being complacent or passive. We still need to follow Jesus up the hill, but as long as we are following Him, we don’t have to worry about being on the right path.
Remember, friend, God is always for us, never against us. He loves to lead and guide us and bring us closer to Him. He is constantly inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. We just have to say yes and get into His rhythm.
Check out these other great posts!
The Rhythm of Wrestling with Restlessness by Lisa Crowder
Productivity and Kids: Creating a Rhythm that Works by Ashley Olivine
Simple Is Better: When Rhythm Feels Hard by Dianne Vielhuber