Ready:
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” — Psalm 46:10
“I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah” — Psalm 143:6
Set:
Whoever decided that in basketball a halftime is needed was really smart. Players have been pushing hard, running fast, playing tough defense so a halftime break is needed. Players get into the locker room, grab something to drink and eat. Maybe a banana and some orange juice, and water. A towel is used to wipe sweat and everyone gets to sit down. Players need to catch their breath, get their heart rate down, hydrate, get some minutes to review the game so far. This break is so needed. Players may not have enough energy to play an entire game without a halftime break. From the coaches’ perspective, they too need a break to refocus the team and to calm their nerves.
The halftime break is lot like what happens in life. It’s a fuller deeper picture of the relationship and journey with God. In the rigors of daily life, we can become overwhelmed and have a lot of pressures and stress. If we don’t get moments to stop, catch our breath, and refocus on the things that matter most, we will get worn out. God knows us perfectly. He knows we must have halftime breaks. Even at Creation, He stopped from all His work to admire what He had done, and He rested. He took a halftime break.
The strong words God gave from Psalm 46:10 simply say to us, “be still”. Stop! Stop from the striving, the pressure, the push and just rest and know that God is God. God has all things under His control. He is with us and for us as we go through each day.
Psalm 143:6 gives two insights for our daily lives. As you are moving through the day, stretch your hands out to God. Reach out to Him for a halftime boost. Have a thirsty soul for Him. Come to Him and get refreshed. Prayer is one great way to do this. The second insight comes from the word, Selah. Selah is a Hebrew word that simply means, stop, look and listen. Stop what you’re doing. Look around you and see what’s actually happening and listen to His voice for guidance.
Just like the halftime break. Get refreshed. Listen to God. Then let’s go – back out onto the court (and life) to the second half.
Go:
What is your routine at halftime?
How does halftime help you to refocus, get refreshed and gain insights for the second half?
How have you come to God to find rest? Do you get still before Him and stop, look and listen?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord God, thank You for showing me the way to regularly stop and rest. Stopping is hard to do because there is a lot of pressure put on me. Help me practice selah: to stop, look and listen. Fill me up with Your presence. I ask for Your help. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”