Cast Your Cares

 

     So many of us use prayer as a last resort. When strength is gone, when we don’t know where to turn, when control is taken away, we turn to God. Our Savior does not want our prayers to be the last line of defense, but the first.

     Allow God into your world this week, into the monumental, into the mundane, into the drama, into the details. Thank Him for the little things. Praise Him for the breath of life. Pray for our country. Pray for our world leaders. Pray for rain or for sunshine or for healing or for comfort. God is near to your heart. He cares for you.

Come near to God and He will come near to you…James 4:8a

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

     Come near to God. He cares for you so much. Let Him in. Ask for help. Cast your cares and worries on His mighty shoulders. He is right there.

Father,

Remind us to be in constant contact with You. You never leave our side, even when You seem to be far away. Help us to lean on You today with everything on our hearts.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

The Paradoxes of Faith

 

     Death is life. Spiritual eyes over earthly sight. A yoke of rest. Strength in weakness. The world of Jesus causes us to look through spiritual eyes, to trust His power, to give ourselves to Him to use for His glory. What a gift!

     He reminds us it is better to give than to receive. Talk about counter-culture! What about me? What about what I want? I work hard. I deserve it. Sound familiar? We all think this way in our human frailties. But Christ teaches us the more we give, the more blessings return to us.

     The blessings may not look like the blessings of the world., but they warm the heart, give peace to the soul and are more precious than gold and silver.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

And whatever you do, whether in work or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

     Sacrificial love is a concept impossible to fathom, until we see what Jesus did for us. We want things to be even. I give. You give. I deserve more, but you don’t. We didn’t deserve the agony of the cross to save us, but He went willingly.

     Listen to what He is asking you to do and go willingly for Him, with His strength, with His rest, with His power, with His love.

Lord,

Teach us Your ways as we seek to give more than we receive. You promise us blessings beyond this world, the best kind of blessing always comes directly from You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Paradoxes of Faith

 

     Jesus shows who He is through our weaknesses. Doesn’t make sense, does it? The testimonies of the faithful are filled with the glories of Jesus through dire times. The comfort when we mourn. The faith through disabilities and sickness. The trust when we don’t see an answer. To speak of Him on our deathbed.

     We can’t explain it, but the purpose of our lives is to bring glory to God, to share His love, to witness for Him, to be His ambassadors in a mad world.

We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20a

     Will you speak of Christ through the difficult times? Will your faith shine throughout your life? Let His strength guide you and give you confidence in Him. He is sufficient

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses , so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Father,

Give us Your strength and power at our weakest moments and we have many. You are sufficient for this day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

The Paradoxes of Faith

 

     Life with Jesus is spiritual and profound. Understanding His teachings takes the Holy Spirit. When people try to understand the Bible before accepting Christ as Savior, it can sound foolish or perplexing. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring truth into your life through His word. He is our teacher, guide and interpreter.

     Did you know Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us to find rest? A yoke at the time Jesus walked the earth was made out of wood with two openings for the heads of oxen. The burden becomes light when shared.

     Jesus shares our burdens. He lightens the load and He brings peace and rest for our souls. There will be burdens to carry, but with the yoke of Christ with us, we find rest in the storm.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

     Are you weary and burdened? Run to Jesus and find rest for your soul.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Jesus,

We need You to give us rest in our busy, daily lives. Remind us to take your yoke upon us and to return to You over and over again.

Amen

The Paradoxes of Faith

 

     For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

     Another paradox from the Bible? Can we really learn to travel through the world through faith? Can we see through spiritual eyes rather than through earthly eyes?

     Jesus allows us to see the big picture, to have an eternal perspective, to go deeper, to see beyond, to see through. We see with His eyes of love and grace. We see a hurting world with His tears. All we want is for others to know Him, and to live by faith, to share the Gospel.

     If we completely trust Jesus with our lives, He can work through us and bring good through our circumstances. Listen to this promise!

And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

     If you have Jesus as Savior, you have been called for His purpose. He works good through the most difficult times, through our weakest moments, through our fear, through it all. Believe He is working good in you and through you today.

     Believe and trust your spiritual eyes. Jesus will show you the true blessings beyond this world and into the heavenly realms.

Jesus,

Thank You for showing us deep truths beyond what we see. Help us to walk with faith today and to see with Your eyes, as we move beyong this world.

Amen

The Paradoxes of Faith

 

     Death to life. As we surrender our lives to Jesus, He brings new life. His death and resurrection leads to new life for us, and as we die to ourselves, we can live through Him. What a paradox!  Here are the words of Jesus:

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8:35-36

     Have you accepted Christ? As we continue to live spiritually with Jesus, we begin to die to ourselves and our worldly desires and long to be more like Him. Dying to ourselves is a struggle, and in the book of Galatians you can read all about the battle between flesh and spirit.

     Christ gives life through death.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him. 2 Timothy 2:11

     And life with Him is filled with everything that matters.  Death is life! Do not be envious of those who appear to have it all in this world. Jesus tells us to be in the world, not of the world. We are His and we can rejoice!

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. John 17:15

Lord,

We long to live through You. Give us the wisdom to follow the Holy Spirit, to listen to Your voice, to follow in Your ways. With You, we can die to live.

Amen

 

Love For All

 

     Our battles in this world are spiritual in nature. Satan and his angels are working overtime to destroy our witness, to continue violence, division and hatred.  All tools of our greatest enemy. He will look for ways to rob our peace.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that you may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10

     Jesus reminds us that evil will increase in the last days. Storms will rise, wars will continue, pestilence will reign and men will call good evil, and evil, good.  None of this comes as a surprise to our Lord. What does He ask us to do? He gives us these challenging and profound words.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5::44

But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

     Only with the help of the Holy Spirit is it possible to pray for those we don’t understand, to love those who want to kill, steal and destroy.  I try to remember that they need love as much as we all do. They are searching for answers and lashing out as we all do. Lord, help us.  When evil is running rampant, these words from the Psalmist may help.

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong, for like the grass, they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pastures. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:1-4

     Remember these simple instructions every single day.  Do not fret. Trust and do good. Delight in Him. He will allow us to enjoy and receive His protection in safe pastures. His will be done. Pray for those who want to hurt and destroy. God’s plan will ultimately run its course and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Lord,

Keep us mindful of who You are and how we can best do Your work during these trying times. They come as no surprise to You and You have given us clear instructions. Help us to trust in You and to do good while we are here.

In Jesus name,

Amen