Selah
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah. ~ Psalm 68:19
“Whoa! You’re talking way too fast. You must stop long enough to breathe. Pauses are also important in a speech.”
How well I remember some of my early training as a public speaker. My instructor was telling me to vary the rhythm—inserting pauses, rather than continually spouting information.
Our word today is just that—a command to pause. Selah.
How often do you deliberately step back from your own life and just allow God’s goodness and blessing to soak over you?
King David practiced this frequently, as in today’s verse. After expressing gratitude and praise, he sits back and absorbs the grace gifts of benefits and salvation.
As my friend Nancie Carmichael says, “Selah helps us remember who we are; it’s a place to be still, to know God. It’s a place where we can deal with choices and changes. In these pauses, we’re reminded that we have a certain number of days, and we can ask ourselves, Do I want to spend the rest of my life doing what I’m doing? In these places, we see things we need to add or to let go.”
Experts disagree on the actual meaning of Selah. Some Bible translations use the word Interlude, identifying it with the world of music. Others suggest it comes from the same root as the Hebrew word Calah, which means “to weigh, to measure,” indicating that Selah could mean a time to weigh and evaluate.
Whatever the true meaning, Selah calls out to us as a boundary—a place to be still and perhaps do absolutely nothing. A fence around our thoughts, our bodies, and our souls.
And though the Hebrew word Selah is not used in the New Testament, one look at Jesus and we will find that he lived it. And if the Son of God needed to pause and focus every now and then, then those of us who are Christ-followers would be wise to follow his ways.
How can you incorporate pauses in your own life? You will never find time; you must simply make time.
Thanks be to God. Selah.
BENEDICTION: My child, breathe. That’s right; take in a deep breath, and now let it out slowly. See? You need pauses in life. They are what help to fill you up for the busy times. Praise Me and serve Me just as the psalmist did. But then pause and let it all soak in. Selah.
Every Blessing, Lucinda
“Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity and Strength”
©2022 Lucinda Secrest McDowell www.LucindaSecrestMcDowell.com
Lucinda Secrest McDowell is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who engages both heart and mind while “Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength.” She has authored 16 books including “Soul Strong – 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life” , “Life-Giving Choices – 60 Days to What Matters Most,” “God’s Purpose for You,” and “The Courage to Write.” (Purchasing my books here benefits me as an Amazon associate.) She writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and shares encouraging words weekly at LucindaSecrestMcDowell.com
Want to read all of the “Grace & Gratitude Summer Blogs”? Click HERE to read as each one goes live. These 14 weeks of blogs — adapted from Lucinda’s award-winning book “Ordinary Graces” — come out each Wednesday morning June 1st through August 31st. Thanks for reading. Click HERE to add your email to get blogs weekly in your in box.
A good word to start the day!
Another great word to ponder! Very timely. Thank you!
Just what I needed today as I look ahead to a coming milestone and evaluate how I want to spend the rest of my days. Our friend Maureen reads your blog but I will also forward this to her just in case she misses it. Her Selah Farm is a place of refuge - a place to pause. Hoping to take the grandkids there soon to visit.
Thank you, dear friend. We live on Selah Farm-having decided upon that name more than 20 years ago for the very reasons you spoke of here.
Was just talking to a dear friend yesterday about the power in our pauses. So this was very timely.
❤️
So true….we need to make the time, effort, intention to pause. Thanks for this good reminder.