Sitting In God's Lap

My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and forevermore.   Psalm 131

This prayer from David, written three thousand years ago, captures the power of prayerful picturing. David envisions his soul as a small child who is no longer breast-feeding, and who can sit content in his/her mother's lap peacefully. 

In this state of peace and surrender, David can let go of the big questions of life, which he calls "great matters," and he can simply be still, resting in God's love. It's not that the "great matters" aren't still out there, and there's no doubt that David got up from his prayer and participated actively in God's kingdom work in the world. But don't let that distract you from the intimacy of this kind of spiritual surrender.

So today, take some time to picture yourself like David did. Like sitting on your mother's lap, see yourself leaning up against God's heart, quiet and warm and safe and protected and loved. Take at least three minutes in quiet to allow yourself the opportunity to "hope in the Lord" in this very practical, contemplative way before you rush out and try to fix the world. See if God has a word for you or an experience of comfort for you. Be open to God's care as you reflect.