Lighten Your Load

We like for things to be right. We like for there to be fairness. We want to believe that God will make everything alright. But we often want it in our time and according to what we think is right. We don’t want to wait and we don’t always think God is paying attention to our need.

Why are we so impatient? Why do we think we are the only ones who know what is right? Might I suggest it is our fallen nature and, in some cases, our own selfishness. We have gotten used to the instant gratification of getting answers from Google or some other internet search engine.

We forget that God works his plan on his timeline. We would do well to both realize and to adhere to his plan. We must trust that he will judge this world. He will set everything right. He is righteous and will fulfill his promises. But instead of trusting and being patient, we are like the child who is promised a pony and asks their dad every day when the pony will arrive.

God has promised an eternity with him in which we will live perfectly. He is always faithful even when we are not. Rather than continuing to be like children, just as the Apostle Paul writes in to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 3, who fail to trust in God’s plan and take things into our own hands. Let’s make the mistake that we are to do nothing. We are to trust God with our entire being and listen for his guidance so that we can follow his plan.

Unfortunately, we too often make our own plans and ask God to bless them rather than seeking his guidance and following his plan. It is when we give up our preferences and our plans that we will see God work in amazing ways. When we fully trust God’s judgment, we are set free from the judgments of this world. That freedom releases us from the worry, anxiety, and frustration we feel, effectively taking a heavy pack off our back. Trusting God allows us to walk much lighter.

I pray we all work toward trusting God’s plan. I pray we trust that God will fulfill his promises. I pray each one of us trust God will set everything right and lessen the load we carry every day. Trust God. Trust God’s plan. Trust God will fulfill his promises. Trust God will set everything right. Lighten your load. Be set free.

Psalm 119:137-138

You are righteous, O Lord,

and your judgments are right. 

You have appointed your decrees in righteousness 

and in all faithfulness.

Petition God

Have you cried out against injustice? Have you screamed that things are not fair? Have you been fed up with people getting away with things that you know they shouldn’t. Did you receive an answer? Did you see justice served? Did you blame God? Or did you cry out to God?

We have our own idea of what fair is. Though most of us generally have the same view of fairness, it still often leans slightly in our favor, if we are honest with ourselves. But injustice is something different. It is often based on law, even if some laws support injustice.

Habakkuk was a prophet who lived during the reigns of King Saul, Kind David, and likely died sometime during King Solomon’s reign. We cannot pinpoint when he wrote each piece of his book, but the injustice he speaks of in chapter one lines up with much of what was happening in Israel during the reign of King Saul.

The cry for help due to the violence against the people could reference unfair treatment. On the other hand, it may reference the various wars Saul took the Israelites into. Regardless of the reason, Habakkuk was crying out to God for help. He even implies (or perhaps blames) God is not listening. He is crying out for God to open his eyes and see the injustice, the violence, and to rescue them from it.

We, too, can cry out to God when we see injustice. We can ask that God do something about it. What we should not do is assume God does not see it. For God is omnipresent, meaning he sees everything and is everywhere. God knows. God has a plan. He may just be waiting for someone to cry out to him on behalf of those suffering. So, cry out, but don’t blame God.

I pray we all know we can cry out to God when we see injustice. I pray we know that God already knows what is going on. I pray each one of us will petition God on behalf of ourselves and others. Cry out to God. Cry out against injustice. Know that God is omnipresent. Petition God for yourself and others.

Habakkuk1:2

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, 

and you will not listen? 

Or cry to you “Violence!” 

and you will not save?

Sent by God

What does it mean to be sent by God? Have you ever felt sent by God? Have you wanted to be sent by God? If God called you to lead a mission for him, would you? Do you believe God would provide what you needed to complete the mission he gave you?

Being called by God to lead a mission can be intimidating or scary. But when it is no more intimidating than leading a mission given to us by someone else. In fact, it should be less intimidating. We can trust God to provide what we need to complete the mission.

Moses was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt where they were slaves. It wasn’t that he had to convince individual slave owners to release them; he had to convince Pharoah, the national leader, to release them. Moses was going against one of the most powerful men in the world at that time. No small task.

God rarely calls anyone to lead a mission with the size and complexity of leading 600,000 men (Exodus 12:37) plus women and children out of Egypt, such as he did Moses. Yet, he calls many of his servants to lead a wide variety of missions. Not only does he call us to lead missions but he calls us to lead others to Jesus.

Leading others to Jesus can sound intimidating. However, we do not lead them to Jesus on our own. We have the Holy Spirit with us at all times. As we learn to listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to us and guide us, we discover God leading us to lead others to Jesus. It isn’t simple until we become comfortable listening for and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I pray we all know that God is calling us to lead. I pray we take up the call from God to lead others to Jesus. I pray each one of us learn to listen for and follow the guidance from the Holy Spirit. God is calling you to lead. Lead others to Jesus. Listen to God’s guidance. Follow God’s guidance.

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Humble and Exalted

What comes to mind when you hear someone is humble? Do you think of someone in humble circumstances, meaning poor? Do you think of someone who allows everyone to walk all over them? Or do you think of someone strong enough they don’t have to flaunt their strength?

Being humble or striving to be humble is often misunderstood. Far too often we think of someone who is poor or someone who has no self-esteem or someone who allows everyone to walk on them. We forget that Jesus was the perfect example of being humble.

Have you thought of a horse being humble? No? Think about it. A horse is a powerful animal. It could easily crush a person. It can run at breakneck speed. It can jump over fences. It can pull a wagon loaded down with supplies or people. Yet, a horse that has been broken is a humble animal. Why? It has submitted to a master. It is willing to do as the master commands.

When Jesus speaks of being humble, think of a horse. It is powerful yet submits to its master. We are powerful, but when we submit to God, we become humble. Rather than beating our own drum or blowing our own horn, we are to submit to God. Jesus states that those who exalt themselves (think bragging about themselves) will be humbled, they will be broken even if it isn’t until Jesus returns. But those of us who are willing to humble ourselves before a Holy God will be exalted by God.

I pray we all humble ourselves before a Holy God. I pray we submit ourselves to his commands. I pray each one of us trust that God will humble everyone in his time but will exalt those who humble themselves. Humble yourself before God. Submit to his commands. Trust God to exalt you.

Luke 18:14 “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Prideful or Humble

How many of us thank God that we are not like other people we know? How many of us thank God we are not criminals? How many of us thank God we don’t work in what we consider to be offensive jobs? Have we considered that doing so displays our pride before God?

We too often look down our noses at criminals, those who work in certain jobs, and even people we may know who behave unseemly. We don’t pause to think that we are being prideful in our situation, which God has blessed us with and that we are disappointing God.

Jesus tells a parable in which the Pharisee, one of the religious elite, thanks God he is not like other people. He does so out of pride and being judgmental. He has condemned those other people in his prayer rather than leaving that to God. Not only that, but he speaks of his actions in a prideful manner, justifying himself before God.

We are not to condemn others nor justify ourselves before God. First, it is only God who can condemn someone. He is the judge of all. Second, no matter what we do, we cannot justify ourselves before God. We are only justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. When we boil it all down, we are no better than anyone else who walks this earth. It required Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross to justify every one of us.

Rather than condemning others and attempting to justify ourselves, we should lift others up in prayer and ask God to forgive us. We should humble ourselves before God, knowing we cannot do anything to earn God’s favor. It is through God’s amazing grace that we are forgiven and blessed. God’s grace is not earned but freely given. God’s grace is not just for us but for every person on this earth.

I pray we all realize we are no better than anyone else. I pray we lift others up in prayer that they may be blessed. I pray each one of us humble ourselves before God and ask for forgiveness. You cannot earn God’s favor. Lift others up in prayer. Humble yourself before God. Ask God for forgiveness.

Luke 18:11-12 “The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’”

Forgive and Continue

Have you felt abandoned by your friends? Were you hurt by their abandonment? Did you forgive them for abandoning you? Where did you find strength to move on? Did you merely pull up your bootstraps and continue marching? Or did you have help from someone?

Being abandoned by friends can cut deep into our hearts. It can be so depressing that it immobilizes us. We can walk around in a fog with days, weeks, or months. We can carry the hurt for years. Unfortunately, by carrying the hurt we are only hurting ourselves.

The Apostle Paul had been deserted by people he thought he could count on. Yet, he did not hold it against them and asked God not to hold it against them. How could he move on? He leaned on God. He states that God stood by him and gave him strength. Paul knew that God was always with him. He knew there was a much bigger picture than this life.

We, too, can forgive others. When we do, we find that we set ourselves free. The hurt is released because God takes it away. We no longer walk around in a fog. Our hearts heal. The depression turns to joy. We walk lighter, feel better, and can enjoy life once again.

When we lean on God, he gives us strength. In his strength and with our freedom, we can continue with the mission God has given us. For Paul, it was proclaiming the gospel to the gentiles. Our individual mission will be different but no less important. God gives each of us a unique mission and he provides for us. It is up to us to leave our baggage behind.

I pray we all forgive those who have abandoned us. I pray we decide to set ourselves free from the hurt. I pray each one of us will lean on God, accepting his strength, and continuing the mission he gave us. Forgive others. Set yourself free. Lean on God. Accept God’s strength. Continue God’s mission for you.

2 Timothy 4:19 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

Live Confidently

Have you thought about what people will say about you after you are gone? Have you gone through the exercise of writing your own obituary? Do you wonder if people will think you were a faithful person? Are you doing what is required for that to happen? Do you wonder what God will say?

We often hear people say they want God to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” when he greets them as they leave this life. That is certainly a wonderful goal. But I wonder how many of us are living in a way that shows we are pursuing it? We all should be.

The Apostle Paul in his second writing to Timothy states he knows his time has come to an end. Paul states with confidence that he has fought the good fight. He had poured himself into the work God had set before him. He could say with utmost confidence that he had given it his all. He had faced lashings, beatings, rejections, being shipwrecked, ridiculed, stoned, and chased out of town. All as a result of his preaching the gospel.

Paul’s race is finished, and he had kept his faith in Jesus. He is looking forward to his reward, a crown of righteousness. He reminds us that all of us who long for Jesus’s return will receive a crown of righteousness. It is not that we live perfect lives but that we continually look forward to Jesus returning to consummate the final form of His kingdom—a new heaven and new earth and new Jerusalem. It is by keeping our focus on Jesus that we can endure the hardships of this life.

I pray we all fight the good fight during this life. I pray we pour ourselves into the work God has laid before us. I pray each one of us keep our focus on Jesus and live confidently knowing He will return. Fight the good fight. Pour yourself into God’s work. Focus on Jesus. Live confidently.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Slow Down

Have you ever sat down and read the Psalms? Do you have a favorite? They are full of praise, lament, and recognizing the power of God. They remind us of who God is; his power, his creativeness, his provision, his grace, his mercy, simply how awesome he is.

Psalm 65 is one that starts with praise. It recognizes that God answers prayer. It speaks to his grace. It acknowledges God’s provision and his wonderful creation. Psalm 65 can be used a prayer to meditate on and be thankful for all that God has done and continues to do for us.

We get wrapped up in the busyness of each day; the tasks to be completed, the long list of “to-dos”, the rushing around from place-to-place, and quickly forget that God makes it all possible. We face many distractions each day. People vie for our attention. We get interrupted at inopportune times. We ferry our kids or grandkids to activities. And we don’t slow down to spend time with God.

Today, take a few moments to not only read Psalm 65 but read it a few times, focusing on each sentence and each word. Picture the scenes the author paints. Open your eyes to see what God has provided. The very food on your table is his provision. Take time to walk around your yard, seeing the flowers, the grass, the trees. Notice the fields of grain and the farmers harvesting. Give thanks to God for those blessings. Thank him for the breath of life you have within you. Make today be a day of recognizing God’s blessings and thankfulness for them.

I pray we all open our eyes to see God’s blessings. I pray we take time to contemplate God’s creation. I pray each one of us thank God for his provision and for giving us another day to serve him. See God’s blessings. Contemplate God’s creation. Meditate on God’s Word. Thank God for his provision.

Psalm 65:5

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, 

O God of our salvation; 

you are the hope of all the ends of the earth 

and of the farthest seas.

God Keeps His Promises

Do you take promises seriously? Do you follow through on keeping your promises? Do you expect others to keep their promises? Do you dream? Do you seek to know the future? Would you like to have visions of things to come? Do you know God has promised it?

Most of us take promises seriously. Or, at least, we like to think we do. Yet, there are times when something comes up that keeps us from keeping the promises we make. Some of those things are emergencies, while others are personal preferences that get in the way.

God doesn’t renege on his promises. When he promises us something, he fulfills his promise. He promised us, through the prophet Joel, that there would be people who prophesy in the future. That future has occurred since Joel and continues today. The meaning is that people will be able to proclaim what God will do in the future. We can proclaim it because God has written down in Scripture what he will do.

He also promises that people will dream dreams and see visions. Though these are rarer than prophesying, they do still occur. God still speaks to people in a variety of ways, even through dreams and visions. We cannot discount the many ways God speaks to us and to other people. Rather than discounting it, we should seek to learn from it.

Regardless of how God speaks to us, whether through his written Word, preachers, teachers, or through dreams and visions, we can confidently state it is God keeping his promise. This is just another example of God keeping his promises that builds our confidence in him keeping every promise he has made.

I pray we all trust that God keeps his promises. I pray we claim God’s promises for our lives. I pray each one of us will seek to hear God speaking to us through a wide variety of ways and people. Trust God to keep his promises. Claim God’s promises for yourself. Hear God speaking to you.

Joel 2:28

Then afterward 

I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; 

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 

your old men shall dream dreams, 

and your young men shall see visions.

Trust God

How many people do you know who you would trust with your life? Can you count them on one hand? Are there more than that? How many do you trust to do what they said they would do? Do you trust God to do what he says he will do?

Trust can be difficult to give. People disappoint us in many ways. We may trust some people in some areas and not others. There are few people we grant absolute trust to in all things. Typically, not more than a handful, and maybe just one or two.

Why is trust so difficult? First, we like to think we control our own lives and outcomes. Second, when we are trusting someone else to come through for us, it is scary, unnerving, disconcerting, worrying, and makes us anxious. The fear of the unknown kicks in because we are unsure if they will truly come through for us or not.

Trusting God should not have those uncertainties. God always delivers on his promises. When he says he will do something, there is no doubt he will fulfill his promise. The only thing we may be uncertain of is the timing of his fulfillment. Yet, we must trust that God’s timing is always perfect.

Mary trusted in God’s promise. Though Gabriel did not reveal to her he was an angel from God, Mary understood his message came from God. She trusted God’s plan for her, even though it would mean ridicule. After all, she was unmarried. People would talk. She would be shamed by them. But she knew God was in control. We, too, can trust as Mary did that God is in control and trust his promises.

I pray we all trust God is in control. I pray we seek to hear God’s messages to us. I pray each one of us will relinquish our desire to control and our fear of not being in control, so we trust God. Trust God is in control. Seek to hear God. Relinquish your desire for control. Give your fear to God.

Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.