Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Empty Nester/Retirement (from work) (09/10/09)
-
TITLE: God's Whisperings | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Pourbabaee
09/17/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
What a lovely place to arrive at! Retirement! Like a secluded cabin graced by the warmth of a crackling fire and the comfort of God’s whisperings. Like a stroll in lush gardens sensing my Creator’s presence amongst resplendent sights and aromas. Like retreating alongside a sparkling stream speaking “peace” to my heart.
“He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”
Psalm 23: 2-3 (NAS)
So I can hear His whisperings.
Now it’s not like I haven’t heard His whisperings before. But perhaps I’ve missed a few here and there…maybe more than I dare to imagine. Drowned by the “noise” of life.Stifled by fear.Thwarted by enemy fire. But life has slowed down some as I’ve arrived at this place called retirement and I will turn down the volume of life and listen more!
To retire is defined in Webster’s New World Dictionary: To go away, retreat, or withdraw to a private, sheltered, or secluded place. God has invited me to retreat, not from life, but from the place I have been. God has beckoned me to a place of shelter where I can rest under the shadow of His wings for a while.
Rejuvenation…that’s what I need. But I favor this secondary definition of retire: to move back or away or seem to do so.For as surely as God has called me to retire, He also will call me forth, onward to His destined path.
In retirement God presents me with the gift of time. To reconsider, to reexamine, to retrace...to go back again in reverse direction; to retrace my steps. The footprints of my times, no matter where they lead me, will be rich in lessons. There will be time to retrace…to explore my paths.
There will be time to release regrets, failures, sorrows, stress. There will be time to reconsider and revise ways of thinking and doing.
In retirement, God also offers me the gift of renewal. There will be time to renew my spirit and awaken forgotten dreams, visions, and talents that were sown into my spirit long ago.
There will be extended quiet times to renew my mind with the richness and creative power of His Word.
There will be times of emotional renewal and refreshing.
There will be time to reconnect in more meaningful ways to family and friends and even venture into new relationships.
There will be time to listen. There will be time to learn.
“He awakens me morning by morning. He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple.”
Isaiah 50:4 (NAS)
His Word in Psalm 139 teaches me that all my days are ordained…written in His Book. What will I do with the years, months, weeks, days, minutes God has given me from this day forth? With His precious gift of time, I will listen expectantly for His revelations. I will listen as His disciple for there is still much to learn.
There is still an unfolding destiny to discover.
There is still a divine purpose to live out.
There is still a legacy to complete.
“And your ears will hear a word behind you. This is the way, walk in it."
Isaiah 30:21 (NAS)
Shhh…God is whispering. He is calling me forth!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.