Jesus Culture- Nothing But Good
When using power equipment at home, do you allow the tool to do the work or do you work furiously to aid the tool? In college, one of my teachers showed the class how to efficiently use appliances. The teacher was demonstrating the vacuum. As she vacuumed, she said to allow the vacuum to do the work. Instead of vacuuming fast and furious, vacuum slowly. Give the vacuum time to pick up the dirt. Don’t wear yourself out, working harder than the equipment you use.
Intensive Labor
In life, I often work hard to ‘clean up’ the bad decisions I have made or ‘fix’ something that I don’t think is going the way I want it to go. It is intensive labor to try to change a person or situation. The stress alone makes one weary. Manipulating and maneuvering to change something that is really not in your control, literally wears a person out.
Stop working so hard!
“So …. They called on Baal from morning even till noon.” I Kings 18:22
Leaped and Cried
The Baal worshipers in I Kings were challenged by Elijah to have their god produce fire on the altar. After calling, summoning, uttering a loud sound, from morning until noon, there was no fire. The Bible says they leaped about the altar, cried aloud and cut themselves until late afternoon. Baal did not answer.
Work Hard for Change
Sometimes, it seems that is how I react when I want God to change a circumstance. I can cry, scream, beg and plead. I work hard to try to get God to wake up and answer me! Immediately is not soon enough! Am I the only one who feels the prayers are stopping at the ceiling at times?
Patience and Trust
God hears our pleas and He knows our hearts, but He more importantly works things out for His glory. We, as Christians, should exemplify patience and trust in the Lord. So many scriptures remind us not to fear, to trust in the Lord with all our heart, to find joy in all circumstances. Not so easy to do when life throws a curveball. We must learn to stop working so hard to get our way. Find peace and comfort in knowing that God hears our prayers and His answer will come.
“Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Psalm 27:14 NKJV
He Will Give You Strength
Are you carrying a heavy burden today? Are you seeking God to change a circumstance in your life? David reminds us in Psalm 27 to wait on the Lord. The word wait in this verse not only implies patience, but we are to look eagerly for the answer. As we wait, we are to have courage, meaning to grow firm or strong in the waiting. Then God will give you strength in your mind or will. As we wait and watch eagerly for the Lord to work in our lives, we should have courage allowing each life lesson to ground us more and more in trust for God. Then He will strengthen our minds.
Stop working so hard! Wait on the Lord and allow Him to develop in you the trust, faith and joy that only He can give.
Paula Wallace
