Rest for the Weary

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls"  (Matthew 11:28-29, NLT).

     Can you remember the last time you were alone? I mean really alone. Free from any demands and distractions in a quiet cozy corner of your own to breathe deeply? It is difficult to function well when our hearts and minds are full of noise and chaos. The only way we can possibly operate is to give space for quiet and peace to make a home deep within us. 

     Stealing away for some peaceful moments is vital to being a good mom. We get so busy taking care of others that we often forget to take care of ourselves.

     Do you feel fatigued? Making time with the Lord so he can recharge you is a wonderful gift you can give to your children. Schedule it into your day guilt free.

The Protector

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Isaiah 43:2, NIV).

     From the first time someone else holds our precious new babies, our thoughts fix on their safety. Are they using both hands? Remember that first car trip? How many times did you look back at your (probably sleeping) baby? Were you leaning back as you drove, one hand on the car seat, making sure no turn was too sharp or stop too sudden?
     God feels that same way about our children--and about us. There is nothing he won't do to protect his children. He is right there even when we can't be. So go ahead and drive with both hands; he's got this.
     Is it comfortable and natural for you to entrust your children to others, or do you struggle to let go? How about with God? Share your heart with him; ask him to strengthen your confidence, and thank him for how very much he loves you and yours.

Held Together

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17, NIV).

     Often life seems to be a conglomeration of unrelated activities and we feel pulled in a thousand directions simultaneously. Loose ends, unfinished business, and to-do lists leave us feeling a day late and a dollar short. Frustration, discouragement, and anxiety often overwhelm. The apostle Paul must have experienced something similar when he was on a ship headed to Jerusalem to be tried in court. An enormous storm raged. In an effort to survive, the sailors wrapped ropes around the body of the ship to keep it from falling apart. God promised Paul that all would survive the wreck, and they did!

     What an amazing truth it is to know that it is not our job to hold our lives together. Our responsibility is to submit our to-do lists to God, bow to his will, and let him hold it all together. He is the rope that holds us fast.

     Lord, thank you that you are the glue that keeps me together. Today as I face the impossible list of my responsibilities, I submit to your will and ask you to hold everything in place. 

City without Walls

The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11-12, NIV).

     In grade school, we had to wait to speak until our hand was raised. The teacher would not call on a single student until she had finished talking. The children could barely wait another second before blurting out the answer. These teachers were wise. They were trying to teach self-control--a valuable life lesson.

     Lack of self-control comes in a variety of forms: overeating, spending too much time on the computer or phone, losing our tempers, wasting money, gossiping, and the list goes on. Self-control is an area that requires discipline. In order to perfect it, we need to practice and ask God for help. Proverbs 25:28 describes a man without self-control as a city broken into and left without walls. What an easy way to let the enemy in.

     Which areas in your life require you to practice more self-control? Who can you be accountable to? Ask for help today in the area of self-control. Bring your weakness into the light and find the help you need in the Lord.

Bridging the Gap

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).

     Do you ever feel like there is an enormous gap between what you know to be true in God's Word and what you feel to be true? Our feelings are so fickle. They fluctuate depending on our circumstances much as our moods change with the weather. The good news is that they don't change facts! God promises strength, wisdom, peace, hope, direction, comfort, forgiveness, courage, eternal life, and so much more. These are unchangeable--they are written in stone.

     How do we move from the tyranny of emotions to the confidence of faith? We must determine to believe what God says instead of what our emotions say, and then declare his promises aloud! Then we do it again and again and again until faith rises and bridges the gap.

     Lord, your Word is true and I know it. Right now, I feel so alone and frightened even though I know you promise never to leave me or forsake me. I choose to believe the truth. Help me now by the power of your Spirit.

Our Father

OUR FATHER KNOWS WHATS BEST FOR US,
SO WHY SHOULD WE COMPLAIN-
WE ALWAYS WANT THE SUNSHINE,
BUT HE KNOWS THERE MUST BE RAIN-
WE LOVE THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER
AND THE MERRIMENT OF CHEER,
BUT OUR HEARTS WILL LOSE THEIR TENDERNESS
IF WE NEVER SHED A TEAR...
OUR FATHER TESTS US OFTEN
WITH SUFFERING AND WITH SORROW,
HE TESTS US, NOT TO PUNISH US,
BUT TO HELP US MEET TOMORROW...
FOR GROWING TREES ARE STRENGTHENED
WHEN THEY WITHSTAND THE STORM,
AND THE SHARP CUT OF THE CHISEL
GIVES THE MARBLE GRACE AND FORM...
GOD NEVER HURTS US NEEDLESSLY,
AND HE NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN,
FOR EVERY LOSS HE SENDS TO US
IS FOLLOWED BY RICH GAIN...
AND WHEN WE COUNT THE BLESSINGS
THAT GOD HAS SO FREELY SENT,
WE WILL FIND NO CAUSE FOR MURMURING
AND NO TIME TO LAMENT...
FOR OUR FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN,
AND TO HIM ALL THINGS ARE PLAIN,
SO HE NEVER SENDS US PLEASURE
WHEN THE SOULS DEEP NEED IS PAIN...
SO WHENEVER WE ARE TROUBLED,
AND WHEN EVERYTHING GOES WRONG,
IT IS JUST GOD WORKING IN US
TO MAKE OUR SPIRIT STRONG.

{HELEN STEINER RICE}

A Basket Case

"I took the load off their shoulders; I let them put down their baskets" (Psalm 81:6, NCV).

     People in developing countries typically have few options when a heavy load of some kind must be moved. In Africa, a tribal woman can carry up to 70% of her body weight on the top of her head. Physical burdens are--yes--burdensome and require strength and stamina.

     Spiritual and emotional burdens are the same. The heaviness and fatigue of the soul can bring depression and even a loss of hope. There is great news, however! We have a burden bearer--one who is well equipped and ready to remove our hands from our heavy load! Our responsibility is to let him do it. Put all of your concerns, worries, fears, and doubts into God's mighty basket and let him haul it away! You don't have to be a basket case! 

     Lord, today I'm placing all of my concerns into your ample basket. I release it to your care. As you solve all these issues, let me know how to proceed one step at a time. Thank you for being my burden bearer!