I was greeted this morning by two playful dogs who both wanted attention immediately. Since I was the only human awake in the house at that time, it was safe to assume that they were happy to see me. A hot cup of Door County Caramel Apple Coffee is sitting next to me and is a soothing comfort to a body that needed to pray on and off through the night.
Psalm 18:16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters.
Have you ever had to wrestle with an idea or thought you knew was from God and it didn't appeal to you? Have you ever come to a crossroad in life and weren't sure of the direction to take? Has the surroundings in your life or the people in your life just made you want to get into a kayak and paddle away until you can't. Have you ever been to the point where work or ministry seems to be a weight around your neck? I think we have all experienced seasons like that.
Fortunately we serve a God who understands that we can get overloaded and the joy of life seems to be swallowed up by not the biggest issues in the world but a pile of smaller ones that just seem to be there to drag us under.
God give us a place to turn to at times like these.
First we turn to Him and ask Him to adjust the load, remove it or to help us carry it. God is faithful and will do as He promises each and every time.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.
Once this is done we can never forget that God knew that there would be days like we are experiencing . So to have a battle ax, spiritual bandages, soothing words of assurance, discipline, and just plain old support. God gave us His written word filled with what we need for the day.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, training and correcting in righteousness, so that the man of God is fully equipped for every good work.
God knew that our spiritual gas tanks would run empty now and then. So He gave us a place to stop, take off the dented battle helmet, soothe our wounds, sharpen the dull sword, and prepare to get back into the battle of life. It is His word. I am grateful to God who knows our thoughts from afar. I am grateful to God for not giving up on any of us. I am grateful to God for making us weak enough that we need Him and He can be strong for us. I am grateful to God who knows when we had enough and calls us to rest. But with every rest there comes a time to wake up and get back into life and the work He calls us to. Then again through His word we read another promise.
Deuteronomy 31:5 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. And He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Friends, I hope this helped some of you today. it was an exercise that probably did more for me than it did for you.
God bless,
Marty
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