"Country"

A way out in the country,

Was where my days began,

And after life’s big circle,

It’s back there that I ran.

But why did you go back there,

Left cities far behind,

Because they stressed and strained me,

And to me were unkind.

I longed for quiet pastures,

I wanted horseback time,

I asked the Lord to help me,

And He said, “Okay, fine.”

I’ll meet you in the country,

Though I’m always with you,

And you will find the rest you need,

But something else is true.

You’ll speak out from the country,

You’ll speak the truth in love,

I’ll help you say it clearly,

An echo from above.

You won’t make it happen,

You’ll let it come through you,

Just trust in Me to do it,

Find day by day My cue.

Raise up your cowboy standard,

Use it to share My name,

The honor and the glory,

Will cast out all the shame.

And they will come to Jesus,

Receive His healing grace,

It will happen in the country,

And all will seek His face.

So get yourself all ready,

There comes a rising tide,

The flow of God’s own Spirit,

Like horses that you ride.

It will be horseback gospel,

It will be cowboy church,

It will be rest and power,

I will reward the search.

“He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength…” (Ps. 23:2-3, NLT)

God leads us to quiet places for renewal and strength. Most times we think of these moments as retreats from ministry. But this is not always true. The quiet streams and green meadows might also become a place from which to minister. The Sabbath is no longer the seventh day of the week for followers of Jesus. The Sabbath rest is a lifestyle. We rest in Him, and His Spirit flows through us. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, and from that position we walk out what we know, and stand against evil. That way what is produced spiritually has eternal value. You might not literally be able to go to the “country” to find your quiet place. But we can all be still and know that He is God. We all can rest and cooperate with the work of the Spirit through us.

Lord, help us to find our rest and productivity in You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Jack Sorenson, jacksorensonfineart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Jack, and God bless you.