PACE The Rest of Your Life - Part 5 - 9/22/24 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalms 23 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:1–11 ESV Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV PACE Pace is everywhere Career/Wealth Work/Leisure Health/Fitness THE PACE OF YOUR HEART MATTERS MOST Biblical Truth Shepherd -בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־ מֵ֖י - to stretch oneself out, to cause to lie down King - מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ - to lead or guide to a watering place, bring to a place of rest, refresh Steadfast Love (Mercy) - חַסְדְּךָ֗ (checed) kindness (lovingkindness) and fidelity; enduring love Dwell - יָשַׁבy (Yasab) dwell, have one's abode Forever - לְאֹ֣רֶךְיָמִֽים׃. (akouó) day into perpetuity, time without end Abide - μένω (menó) not to depart, not to leave, to continue to be present; to maintain unbroken fellowship Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever v.6 The LORD - I AM is both beginning and end My invitation to stay in Gods house - not a visitor but family His enduring love and goodness FOLLOW ME ALL MY DAYS Abide in me, and I in you Holding on to God’s presence is crucial Faith remains in valleys and mountains, enemy’s and friends, endures all things Remaining in Christ leads to fruit, leads to life The Pace of Your Life Pace must match God’s if you are to Abide (Remain) Endurance requires a Pace that restores/maintains the heart Pace and Presence are Inseparable God’s PACE for you is His PACE for YOU Your “heart rate” needs to match that of Christ in you PAUSE and adjust POSTURE POSTURE leads to His PRESENCE PRESENCE reveals your PURPOSE PURPOSE dictates your PACE PACE keeps you in Christ IN CHRIST there is Life Reflection and Discussion - What pace would you currently describe your life? Why - Do you tend to run ahead only to crash? Start slow lacking motivation? Never really challenge yourself? Pace Matters - Think of the biblical examples of men and women whose pace failed to match God’s pace for them, what was the result? What happened when the choose to move at His Pace for them? - Do you ever struggle with comparing the PACE of your life to that of those around you? Co-workers? Friends? Celebrities? Successful Individuals? Why does God not want us to compare our PACE with that of others. - How does viewing you PACE in light of eternity impact your thinking and potentially your actions? If its a marathon, are you moving at a PACE that you will be able to finish? Or are you flirting with burnout? Ultimately Psalm 23 comes down to FAITH, If you trust the Good Shepherd and you TRUST the invitation God extends then you cant help but move at His PACE because you are always with Him. So what keeps you from being with God so that you can move at His PACE? Are you ready to surrender whatever holds you back, confess it, and choose to move forward in FAITH? God is inviting you on the Journey of a LIFETIME the really question isn’t whether you want to go it’s will you actually trust Him and live with Him leading you.