Every year, I take time to listen to what Heavenly Father has to say about the year to come. I typically hear single words that become themes for the year.
These words become a beacon in my Spirit – a reminder of what He is working out in me as I encounter challenges, and an area in which I focus my attention.
In past years, I have heard words like “courage” and “generosity” and “balance” and “abundance.”
This year, I heard the word “restraint.” Hmm, not very motivating.
Here’s a little excerpt from my prayer journal as God unpacked what He meant:
“There is a restraint – a godly restraint – that I want you to understand this year at a deeper level. All things are lawful but not all things are profitable. Mature sons and daughters understand this principle and can self-regulate their life for greater profitability.”
“Restraint is having the means to do something, but choosing not to. It is taking a moment to pause and consider before you speak, or respond, or make a commitment. Godly restraint honors me because the pause gives you an opportunity to hear what I am saying.”
I am still meditating on this word and letting Holy Spirit unpack the full breadth of its meaning for 2016, but here are a few initial insights that struck me.
Restraint is a form of self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit. When we practice restraint, it is evidence of a fruitful and abundant life.
I like how He used the phrase: “pause and consider” which is the definition commonly used for the word Selah.
According to Strong’s, Selah (or celah) has two meanings:
1.) to lift up, exalt
2.) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption
Selah appears in two books of the Bible. The Psalms, and Habakkuk.
Psalms is a collection of songs; it is essentially the Hymnbook of the Bible.
In the Psalms, scholars believe Selah is used to indicate to the musicians that they should pause to take a breath, or let the musicians play without words.
In Habakkuk, Selah is used in chapter 3, which is recording a prayer of Habakkuk that quite possibly was also a song. The final sentence of the chapter reads: “To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”
The visual picture that comes to mind is a violinist playing a masterful piece of classical music. The pauses and interruptions in the score emphasize the next note. They accentuate the entire piece. They add depth and complexity and variety. They feature a masterful solo piece.
So perhaps what God is inferring with the word restraint is that He wants me to learn to let Him
slow me down.
Pause.
Add emphasis.
Accentuate.
And redirect ////////////.
Interrupt.
Hmmm. I think I’m okay with that. Selah.