Friends, there may be days when we feel like a disassembled puzzle with pieces scattered here and there. But nothing can be further from the truth. In Christ, you are complete. You are wholly beautiful. While our lives and spaces may get disorganized at times, we are well put together and held by our completeness in Christ: “And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” Colossians 2:10, NKJV
~Word for Life Says
Returning to the familiar can be like a warm hug. Its embrace is comfortable and welcoming and can give you a sense of belonging.
But what if you don’t belong in the familiar? What if the place you are trying to return to is not the best for you? What if you are trading the comfort of familiarity for the hard choice to move on to something new?
This time of year, many people seek to add new routines to their lives, new regimens to their health, and pursue fresh ideas about what they want out of life. At the same time, many resolutions fall through because going after the new is not always the easiest thing to do. The steps forward can be uncomfortable rather than exciting, and truthfully, it can be downright overwhelming.
In the Bible, God knew what was best for His people, but how often did we see that the children of Israel wanted to go back to what was not best, back to the familiar (Numbers 14:4)? In Egypt, although it was hard, they knew what to expect. Their routines were predictable, and they knew which course of action would produce which results.
God wanted better for them. He desired to take them on a life-changing expedition.
But when God wanted them to journey through the wilderness toward their Promised Land, many became apprehensive and disillusioned with the many challenges they faced in order to reach that goal. And even though Egypt wasn’t good for them and caused them great pain, when times got hard in going toward their place of promise, they wanted to return to the familiar.
With rose-colored glasses on, they talked themselves into believing that the old place where they had come from was not that bad (Exodus 16:3; Numbers 11:5). They convinced themselves that things were okay with the way they were and to be content with a life that was less than ideal because the prospect of the new brought too many challenges.
In pursuing change, we too must be careful not to romanticize where we have come from or where we are going. We must remind ourselves there was a reason for wanting change in the first place. To continually look back and want to throw oneself into that familiar embrace can sabotage where you are trying to go and what you are trying to do (Proverbs 4:25-27; Luke 9:62).
At the same time, to look ahead as if everything is going to be peaches and cream, as if moving forward is going to produce automatic results without hurdles to overcome, is setting oneself up for a fairy-tale ending without experiencing the tragedy of the plot in the middle. It just does not happen that way.
Although this is just the beginning of the year, as it progresses, there will be a few times, if not many, when the pull to the familiar will seek to lure you back (Isaiah 43:18-19).
The familiar, when used correctly, can be an incredibly beautiful thing. But, if you are after real change this year, and the familiar place is not what was producing it, challenge yourself to stay the course, to keep looking ahead (Philippians 3:12-14).
Prayerfully, seek God’s wisdom and guidance, and as with the children of Israel, He will gladly show you the way (Exodus 13:21; Psalm 25:4-5).
Yes, this year, the new may have its challenging moments, but when you reach your place of promise, think of the beauty there to behold.
Friends, without even realizing it we are on the wheel today. There is a final destination awaiting us in glory and progress is being made on that final product. While the end goal is heaven, here we are formed to be vessels fit for the Master’s use (2 Timothy 2:21). Some days we may feel all right, others our imperfections may seem more pronounced, but take heart for even that great apostle once declared, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect…” (Philippians 3:12). It may be we are still in the process. It may be that the Father’s loving and careful hands are still at the wheel shaping us: “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand…” (Jeremiah 18:6). By faith, allow yourself to be shaped.
~Word for Life Says
Friends, there is a stillness of heart and soul one must appreciate and long for. When the world demands noise and roars its desires, the Lord beckons us to steal away in His presence and just be still (Psalm 46:10). It is in the quietness of this moment where we shut out the world’s demands and wrap ourselves in the familiar embrace of knowing our God.
~Word for Life Says
“Out with the old, in with the new,” they say. Whether we are using that phrase to declutter closets or our lives, it awakens us to the possibility of allowing something fresh to enter.
Fresh can’t come when we hold on to unprofitable and unproductive things which is why countless individuals use the passing of the old year into the new as a marker for change in many areas of their lives.
As time goes by, we can often get into ruts or feel stale in our routines and daily lives, and we need this refreshing point to reinvigorate us, to reevaluate and reawaken our perspective, and challenge our resolve to do better and to do more. This is a time for redirecting paths that may have gone off-kilter in our relationships, work, ministry, health, life, etc.
When bringing in the new, what are we looking for? That is a question only you can answer for yourself.
When introducing the new for myself, I am looking for an increased awareness of distractions to my goals, which can help me navigate each one as it comes in a fitting manner.
Knowing that distractions will come since we live this thing called life, I am also trying to be more aware of my priorities. How do I best use my time each day to get the most out of the gifts and life God has given me? Am I spending the proper amount of time developing the things that I say are “priorities,” or am I just talking about them?
There is a measure of accountability with oneself that comes with those questions. Am I happy with what I see? If not, what can I do to improve those areas? Where and how can I inspire and challenge change?
Approaching the idea of new is not supposed to be stressful or put a sour taste in your mouth as you grit words of resolve through your teeth. It is a breath of fresh air, bringing with it renewed inspiration to work and/or improve areas of my own life where I desire to see positive adjustments made.
There are countless stories in the Bible where people had the chance to start over and walk into the new, but two of my favorites are Ruth and Abraham. I find their experiences encouraging for all who are pressing forward and inviting this level of change in their lives.
Ruth, especially, in the natural, lost everything. And when she was willing to walk away from everything familiar, comfortable, and reliable – she found what she was walking toward to be so much more fulfilling.
Her story, like Abraham’s, stretched them to go forward into an unknown future, and holding on to faith in God, they went. Neither one of them knew exactly where each step would lead, but they walked forward and were greatly rewarded for their press, for their diligence, and for their continued faith in God.
Starting over, bringing in the new, and allowing these fresh steps to happen can look different for each person. The example of Ruth and Abraham can teach us all a little something about letting go of an unprofitable past and moving forward in faith (take time to read their stories in the Bible).
I don’t know what last year looked like for you and can’t predict what’s in store for this year. As with Ruth and Abraham, we may not have all the answers about the future we are currently going into, but through it all, may we be found moving in the forward press of our faith in God. As we are walking into the new and opening the door of our lives to allow this freshness in, be confident that He has us, and may we continue holding on to Him as we trust in God’s guiding hand, for He is the “same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 118:8
Updated and Revised from January 1, 2022
Text Free Photo by Reynaldo #brigworkz Brigantty on Pexels.com
Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site may not be copied and pasted, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic). See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.
Holy Affection,
upon my knees,
there I turn
with my heart’s pleas.
Near the cross
to Him, I bow,
request made known,
burdens laid down.
Unloaded griefs,
upon Christ, I stand,
blessed assurance,
promises in hand.
Helped and held
by relieving grace,
upon my knees,
I run this race.
Raised in courage,
full speed ahead,
for upon my knees,
my faith is fed.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay
I have about twenty-seven baby strawberry plants in my house. This year it was time to remove the old ones and the new ones I wanted to start are a different variety I wanted to try because I was not pleased with the previous variety I had or its production.
To prepare them to grow properly and eventually to go outside and overwinter, I had to start them inside where the temperature was more reliable and even. Another key factor to starting them inside is root development. For them to thrive, survive the winter, and eventually be productive growers next spring, they need to develop a strong root system.
I would say having a strong root system is a vital component of the Christian life for us to thrive and be productive, also.
Friend, we will not be all that God has called us to be in not taking great care for what we are established in and getting caught up in every little thing that comes our way. Our firm foundation is in Christ alone, and it is in Him that we must well plant our Christian root system.
Colossians 2:7 admonishes us to be, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith…”
There are many swaying doctrines, but only one Christ. There are many thoughts and theories, but only one way of truth (John 14:6). If it is not Jesus, it is not our right source. If it is not our right source, it will not properly encourage the healthy growth that we need. Where there is no growth, the plant and our walk of faith will be stunted and/or eventually die off.
But the one who is properly rooted will be fed, nourished, supplied, thrive, grow, and eventually produce a mighty harvest.
We are meant to grow.
We are meant to produce more and more fruit.
Our Christian life is all about Jesus because Jesus is the reason for our Christian life. He is the central reason and the center of our faith that we are to bring everything else back to.
Don’t let the questions and uncertainties of this life stunt your growth. Place your roots deep in Jesus Christ alone, my friend, and you will grow.
Here we go again. At the rear end of my backyard stands a wide, tall, bush-like tree extending forward eleven feet, and who knows how many feet wide along the back fence.
Moving into this house, it was one of the drawing factors because it offered complete privacy from the neighbors behind.
But, when a game of playing with any type of ball or frisbee takes place, that flying object will almost always end up lost in the massiveness of this so-called bush tree. Then, it is up to me to try to climb under, or in, or around this massive monster to retrieve the lost object.
It is not as difficult as it sounds (unless you are afraid of bugs and other critters), except the yard behind me has an over-energetic raspberry patch whose branches have wiggled their way through our massive monster, making navigating it harder due to its thorny reach.
Thorns hurt. If you have ever grabbed a branch filled with thorns, or a rose, you know what I mean. If you have accidentally brushed against one of these protruding antagonists, you can feel my pain of having to try to navigate this area and come out unscathed.
But the truth is, my friend, we will not go through this world unscathed. There are going to be things that hurt us. There is suffering we may encounter or thorny places we may have to navigate as we travel this road called life.
Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation…” (John 16:33), yet when afflictions come, we forget these words and those of Peter who said, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you,” (1 Peter 4:12).
Why? Because when it hits us personally, it feels different. It hits too close to home, and we want to shut the doors on them, yet these hard times, these thorny places, seem to find you anyway.
Knowing that it is all a part of our existence and living on this earth does not make it easier. But maybe we can learn from others how they navigated their thorny places.
IN THE BEGINNING
Please know, that when God perfectly created this world, our life was intended to be a garden of peace. We were never supposed to have to deal with thorny places. But because of sin, because of the curse, Adam was told, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee…” (Genesis 3:17b-18a).
Where there was no sorrow, now sorrow exists. Where there were no thorny places, now they have come forth making what we have to do here harder than God ever intended.
PAUL’S THORN
The Apostle Paul knew personally about thorns.
Paul’s resume is doubtless impressive. In addition to having authored two-thirds of the New Testament – his missionary journeys, works, and miracles allowed him to not only see things but also inthe supernatural workings of the Lord in his life.
Through it all, he could have boasted (Philippians 3:4-6), yet he stated in Philippians 3:8, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord… and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
After rehearsing the measure of suffering he had endured for the ministry (2 Corinthians 11:22-29), he stated, “If I must needs glory, I will glory in the things which concern mine infirmities,” (2 Corinthians 11:30).
Although he experienced “visions and revelations of the Lord” (2 Co. 12:1), some where he was “caught up to the third heaven” (2 Co. 12:2), “into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Co. 12:4), he knew it would be a foolish thing to boast (2 Co. 12:5,6).
As if to draw a line in the sand, Paul was given “a thorn in the flesh” to prevent any measure of self-exaltation that would cross the lines of humility and usefulness where he stood.
Jesus taught in parables regarding thorns that would encumber and choke one’s progress in the word of God “through cares and riches and pleasures of this life” preventing them from coming to a place of fruitfulness (Luke 8:14).
It would seem as though, for Paul’s spiritual benefit, a thorn was used to keep him in a place of fruitfulness rather than from it.
THE THORNS OF JESUS
Thorns are not easy for anybody to bear with. Through the humiliation and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, before His crucifixion, as if to add insult to injury, He was given thorns that would tear into His literal flesh: “And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,” (Mark 15:17).
His thorns were not to keep Him from being exalted, for God would ensure His name is exalted above every name (Philippians 2:9-11). Anything revolving around the crucifixion and the cross, including the thorns, was to identify with and for the man (humans) He came to save, and to be obedient to the will of God, although being equal with God, Himself (Philippians 2:6-8).
Hebrews confirms that Jesus felt and experienced the fullness of humanity (yet without sin) while maintaining His full deity (Hebrews 4:15). That includes the sufferings that came with it all, and the thorns as well.
When trying to move through the difficulties of life, how do we do it? It is always easier to tell one about what they’re going through and what they should do, but the hows of knowing a way to move through these prickly patches is a whole other story.
Thankfully, the Bible and the lives of how these two thorn-bearers handled the inflictions upon them can help.
LEAN ON GOD’S SPIRITUAL SUPPORT SYSTEM
The same God who has been with you is the same God whose grace sustains you.
From Paul, we learn a lot about this. Although he prayed, as many would, for the thorn to be removed, God’s answer was for His best plan to be carried out in Paul’s life. And to do that, as uncomfortable and burdensome Paul may view it the thorn must remain.
Even though the thorn was to remain, God gave Paul an answer we can all glean comfort from when we are dealing with our own protruding antagonists: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)
We will never have all the answers to the ins and outs and the behind-the-scenes going on in our lives. But we have God, the only true living God, who supplies us with sufficient grace through it all.
God gave him the spiritual support he needed to go through these troubles in the form of grace. He didn’t answer the prayer in the way that Paul prayed for it, but he was guaranteed that in all that he was encountering, God had a heavenly supply that would keep him in his most useful state.
So often we pray to be useful for God’s kingdom, and yet, the way it comes out may not be at all like we imagined. But just because we didn’t imagine it this way, doesn’t mean God can’t use it. Because He can, my friend. He can.
God told Paul, “For my strength is made perfect in weakness.” When we think we don’t have much to give. When we compare our journey to this and that and feel like we come up short, we may be in the exact spot where God can manifest His strength the most.
If we think we have all the answers, as long as we can find sufficiency in ourselves and in our own strength, it is easy to lean on that. It is not until we know that without Him, I would fail. Not until we see and rely on God as our all-in-all, can He get the most out of us.
Therefore, Paul’s response was most appropriate: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong,” 2 Corinthians 12:9b-10).
Paul doesn’t celebrate or take pleasure in pain, rather he settles himself in them because of the useful state it allows him to remain in before God. It’s as if to say regardless of where this leads or what I must endure, I’m choosing to continue in this ministry and leave the outcome to God.
COMMIT IT INTO THE HANDS OF GOD
And for Christ, as He hung on the cross with the crown of thorns upon His head, and saw the angry stares of the people, with their jeering and angry words hurled at Him, He committed the whole process of the cross into the hands of God.
He refused to relieve Himself from it. He refused to back down. He persevered through the pain.
When they entered Gethsemane to arrest Him, He could have escaped. Before they laid one stripe upon His back, He could have called down blindness upon His prosecutors as the angels did at the door of Lot (Genesis 19:10-14). Before one nail inserted itself into the flesh that would die for all humankind, He could have stopped it but that would not have been in the will of God.
So, regardless of the cost, the pain, and the persecution, Jesus committed it all to God’s hand and submitted to His holy will: “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). That included the whole package deal of the cross, including every single thorn God wanted Him to feel and wear.
And through His submission came our salvation.
When we release it all into God’s hands, we know it is in a place where it won’t fail from His purpose. God can do perfectly in one moment what we struggle and strive for our entire lives to accomplish.
The pain of thorny places may make us feel like our world is spinning out of control. But anything committed into the hands of God will come out the way He orders it, even if it doesn’t look or feel like we think it should.
We all deal with thorns, but it doesn’t mean we are in a place of disfavor. It could very well be that we are in a place of maximum usefulness. Where we see weakness, God may see His strength overcoming it. Where we see thorns, it may be a place where God wants to perform a great work in you.
Text Free Photo by Radovan Zierik on Pexels.com
“When my spirit was overwhelmed…” those are the words David wrote at a very tumultuous time in his life. He spent many days on the run, hiding, with his life hanging in the balance because the current king, Saul by name, had it in his mind to kill David without a second thought. Therefore David ran, with many days running together into a blur of trying to stay out of Saul’s target range just to remain alive.
Some of those running experiences took him to a certain cave. David was known for staying in a cave referred to as Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1). This was a hiding place for him, but it was also a gathering place for his brothers and those from his father’s house to join him. Some others who were also in “distress” and dealing with other issues of discontentment of the way things were joined forces with him as well in that place (1 Samuel 22:2). There, David became a captain over this group of men, but also there, David prayed.
A life spent hiding in a cave and on the run is not a life anyone with a promise on him would deliberately sign up for. But, this is where David found himself and it was overwhelming. He has already been driven into the wilderness. He had already escaped the throw of a javelin more than once that was purposed to end his life. He had already dealt with a king whose anger, fear, and jealousy were eating him up and caused him to eye David with a suspicion that made his every step miserable. He knew if he didn’t flee he would die and if he didn’t pray to the only God who could comfort and strengthen him through this whole situation, he would collapse because he was weak from it all.
That was one of the special things about David: he knew how to pray (Psalm 142:1-2). He knew how to take everything he was facing to the Lord without hesitation. It didn’t matter if he was dealing with enemies such as Saul, or if he was dealing with his own sin (Psalm 51) – David knew that there are times in this life that are just plain old overwhelming, and rather than get crushed, he prayed to the true God who could redeem him from the crush; who could lift him above that trials and the storms, and strengthen and heal the brokenness he was dealing with.
In that, David knew all that he was going through had never escaped God’s notice. Every heart-rending prayer, every night of dealing with the unease of another attack from Saul, and every moment that caused him to be anxious over his situation, David confidently believed and stated, “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path,” (Psalm 142:3). Trouble may have seemed like it was following him everywhere he was going, but so were the eyes of God. There was never a time when he was off of God’s radar, and neither are we.
Listen, we may not be hiding in a cave, but there may be other things that we are dealing with that cause us concern, and make us feel weak as if the world is crashing in us. We may be in our own cave experience without a cave, but the same God who knew the path David was on, is the same God that knows the way you take also. Psalm 139 assures us that God sees every part of us and He knows everything about us. He knows our beginning from our end. He sees. He knows. Our paths are not hidden from Him. Everything is opened before Him! Every trial, every test, every burden that you carry, and every overwhelming thing you are facing, God is very much aware of it all. As our Sovereign, Heavenly Father, you dear child of God, are on His mind, and He knows.
He knows how hard it is for you right now. He knows when the paths they push you on is unfair. He knows the tears that you have cried all night long. He knows the heartbreak that you constantly face. He knows when some are against you and try to tear you down. He knows it all.
When overwhelmed, David found comfort in releasing the pressure of everything he was feeling into the only hands that could truly help. He released all his worries and pent-up frustrations into the hands of God. He prayed and poured out every burden he was carrying at the throne of grace. When nobody else stood with him, he prayed to the only God who would be there with him through the thick and thin of life, and he placed his confidence in Him.
Though situations may have tossed him about, they never tossed his faith. David stayed planted with his hope steadfastly anchored in God. Friend, whatever overwhelming situation you are facing today, I pray that you would mimic the steps David took in dealing with the hardships of life, and take it to the Lord in prayer. And, not only take to Him in prayer but keep your hope anchored in Him as well.
At the end of David’s Psalm 142 prayer, he stated boldly and confidently, “For thou shall deal bountifully with me,” (vs. 7). David knew, in the end, faithfulness always wins out. We may not be able to personally do anything about some of the stuff we face, but God can. If we don’t quit; if we handle our “overwhelming” moments by remaining secured in the God who can save, heal, and deliver – no matter what distress or hardship we currently face, in the end, God has the final say over it. Believe as David believed and trust God through it all.
Life can feel overwhelming at times, but nothing we face will ever overwhelm God. When everything seems to come crashing down all around you, God is the one who can raise you above it all. Every dark night, He can turn into a day. In times of mourning, He can bring comfort. In the days when you see nothing but ashes, He can make it into something beautiful. In the cave experiences of our life, we can find hope, because He knows and will be there with us through it all. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I,” (Psalm 61:2).
Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic). See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.
What to do with this day when things aren’t clicking and time keeps ticking? When things refuse to fall into the designated places you had for them? When it feels like it’s completely squashed before it starts? So many plans lay ahead but the weight, the feeling, and the pressure of it all leaves one with a sense of having things unaccomplished and unfulfilled. To look on the outside, it seems that everyone else is getting on with this day and their doings, but the fight in here, right now, and the press that comes with it, it just doesn’t seem to want to work out. All the gears for all the mechanics of this day are present, in place, and spinning, but they are just not grabbing correctly to move what we are trying to achieve successfully.
What to do with this day when there seems to be conflict and strain with one another? When relationships don’t hug the way you want them to hug or love in a way you want to be loved? When misunderstandings, assuming, and yes, even one’s own personal views on a matter put barriers between the spirit of fellowship and love. When hurts cause one’s steps to move ever so fragile as if on eggshells, fearing the disappointment and disapproval of someone else?
What to do with this day when rogue feelings break away from the pack you had planned for the day and invade and try to rob you of the potential joy that lay ahead in the hours to come? Thieves of insecurity. Thieves of shame. Thieves of feeling woefully torn. These thieves come with many hideous and damaging names. The day was brand new and fresh at the start, but that didn’t stop these unwanted parasitic nuisances from latching on and tainting it with the feelings of mess-ups, adversity, pain, and disappointments from your yesterdays.
So, what to do with these kinds of days when our plans, people, or feelings just don’t want to cooperate with the vision you had set for it?
Give it to God! That one answer tells us how to deal with it, the proper response to it, and what to do with the rest of it. This is not some Christian rhetoric or cliche. It is a solid truth that we can stand on and base our faith upon. We give it to God.
The real truth is that at any given time on any given day, we will all or have all experienced one or many of the daily upsets listed above (and sometimes even more than these). It is all a part of life, a part that can really throw us off-kilter if we don’t process it right and deal with it in the right way.
Therefore, when everything is going absolutely bonkers, sometimes without rhyme or reason; when nothing within our power or control is working, we give it all to Him who has all power and control. Not as a mythical genie creature whose bottle we rub to have things or people turn out how we want them to. But, as releasing it to His majesty and sovereign will. It’s saying, “I trust you, God.” Whether this day turns out how I configured it or not, my plans, my people, my times, my heart, and my feelings are all in Your hands.
God is not only the Creator of all the universe and the Author of all mankind, but He is concerned about your daily needs for each individual day also. All the areas that need filling, all the upsets that need dealing with, all the plans that need to be taken care of, and all the worries that bog us down – He’s concerned about it all.
But, as we release the day to Him we must also realize His best answer for us may be to not move everything or anything into the places where we see fit. Sometimes, His best answer for what we are going through with this day is to let us learn from it, experience it, and still maintain trust in Him. Regardless of how it goes forward, despite what we feel in the process, no matter who we are dealing with and how we are dealing with them – He still sees it all, knows it all, and has it all in His loving and powerful hands.
So, when days like this come, we give it to God, step back, and just trust Him for every part of it.
Here are some verses and prayers to hold in your heart when the days just aren’t going right for you:
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Father God, I acknowledge that I don’t know everything about this day, my future, or even how to properly respond to it all. I pray for Your leading to show me the right path to walk so that my life might be pleasing in Your sight. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Father God, the end of all things may be vague to me or even remain a mystery. Help my heart hold on to the very real fact that You knew me from the beginning and You know how my story ends; and that if I am in Your hands, then I am in Your plan. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Psalm 126:6 “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Father God, my tears and confusion for the day, You see it all. Help me to know that it is not all in vain. Let my confidence be in You and Your love for me above all else, knowing that for every sadness, there will be joy. When You restore, for every sorrow sown there will be a reaping of happiness and peace. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Word For Life Says... 