"Do the next thing"

" Do it immediately, do it with prayer, do it reliantly, casting all care. Do it with reverence, tracing His hand who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing, leave all resultings, do the next thing."

 

A precious friend of mine recently led me to read this poem,

pulled from a devotion written by Elizabeth Elliott (wife of Jim Elliott(martyred missionary to Ecuador))

 

When our hearts are overwhelmed...

David in Psalms 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 

Family,work,friends, illness,finances,world events,crisis,tragedy,loss...can and does overwhelm the body and soul of each of us. We can be taken to a place where we halt...there is no more strength to move forward, we are tired,fearful overtaken and consumed.

Many In God's word grew weary, they had to stop, re-purpose and lean on the strength of God to be able to finish the work that was set before them.

 

Paul: (Galations 6:9-10) "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary."

Job: (Job 10:1) "My soul is weary of my life..."

Moses: (Exodus 17:12) "But Mose's hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands one on one side and the other on the other side: and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."

 

When our arms and legs grow heavy, when the next step forward seems impossible, when the day is long, or when the sun shines brightly but your heart feels cold and empty, just.. "do the next thing" whether it be a walk down the drive, a supper prepared, a paper turned in, or the next patient seen.

Then trust that the One who died for you, rose for you and is coming back for you can handle the rest.

 

Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. HE does NOT faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable. HE increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.

Beatitude: (happy, fortunate, blissful)

The poor in spirit, have the Kingdom of heaven. Those who mourn,they will be comforted. The meek will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be satisfied. The merciful,they will be shown mercy.

The pure in heart; shall SEE God! The peacemakers will be called the children of God. Those persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ; they get the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is what Jesus said. I pray you are encouraged and strengthened by these promises, from the One who speaks truth, from the One who is righteous, pure and holy.

Matthew 5:3-12

Surrendered

surrender: to give up oneself into the power of another 

Every morning when I awake I am confronted with a decision to surrender...to surrender to my self, my needs, my wants or to surrender mind, body and spirit to our Father God, Jesus Christ. Surrendering to myself feels natural and easy, In fact,I can find myself heading home from work at the end of the day and not even realizing that all day I had chosen to surrender... to me.

I believe as a Christian(a follower of Jesus Christ) this decision to completely surrender our life to God is what our walk is founded upon. In God's word it says "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

 The "new" is doing things through Christ. The only way we can succeed in this "new" walk is to be completely surrendered to Christ. The horse will never take the rider where he desires without surrendering to the bit and allowing it to control him. As God's child I know with all my heart my Father desires to give me clear, peaceful direction for my life . I also know there is no way I can know what that is until I surrender to Him. Why is it so hard? "For our wrestling in not with flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

Until we get to heaven we will have this struggle. But while we are here we have the promise that He will guide us and direct our steps if we surrender to Him our whole hearts. "He gives power to the weak, and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young man will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

Directions

Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

This is such a simple direction that we find in the Bible.

In EVERYTHING, look to God, look to who He is, and He will guide us.

I cringe when I think about how often in my life I don't acknowledge Him and how I needlessly flounder because of that fact.

Through a season of unease and hardship, or through a hike to the top of a beautiful mountain peak we are to acknowledge Him, in everything.

At salvation we gave Him our hearts, acknowledged our sin and knew we needed His saving grace obtained through His death on the cross. However, it does not stop there. As a Christian, a follower of Christ, we must look to Him for the rest of our time here on earth.

I wonder how one who knows and believes the Bible, cannot do this in day to day life?

How do I expect to have answers, clarity and wisdom for life decisions?

Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in every way you should go, I will counsel you with my loving eye on you

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you

How do I expect comfort when I need it (Psalms 23) or a peace that passes understanding?

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

"Father...help me,help us to look to You. In the good and in the hard you promise us that if we keep our eyes on You that You will always help us and always direct us.

It's simple verse Lord but it is hard for me to do. My will and my way get in the way and I falter. I ask for a strengthened faith and a stronger trust in You. Remind us of the times when we allowed you to take control and it was well. I look forward to walking closer with You, so that I may walk with security and assurance that You are directing my path. I thank you Father."

Holy

...Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is filled with His glory.

Do we know that our God is Holy? What does that mean to us?

When Isaiah, the prophet, came into the presence of God's Holiness he cried out saying, "woe is me for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips." His unworthiness became instantly clear to him in the face of our Holy God.(Isaiah 6:3-5)

Moses stood, barefoot, covering his face before His Holiness . (Exodus 3:4-6)

Ezekiel, the prophet, dedicated his entire ministry and was given a divine duty to vindicate the Holiness of God to a nation of unbelieving people. He says in 44:4 "...I looked and saw the glory of the Lord filling the temple of the Lord, and I fell face down."

The Bible describes a scene in heaven with beautiful creatures who day and night never cease to say... "Holy,Holy,Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."(Rev.4:8)

Wow...

Even though we will never fully understand or fathom it's depth while we walk here on earth, I believe it is important for us, as children of God, to attempt an understanding of His Holiness in preparation of our arrival in heaven where He promises to fully reveal it.(Isaiah 40:5)

Our salvation would not be without His Holiness. Our works are as filthy rags, but He has made us clean and worthy through His Holiness.

Dwelling on His Holiness, attempting to grasp it's depth, bowing in reverence to Him strengthens our love and understanding of who He is, and motivates us to show others their need for Him in their lives.

When I think about what He has done for me and my life eternal, continuing forever and ever because of His love for me and His sacrifice... I can't help but bow my head and whisper Holy,Holy,Holy is my Lord God Almighty.

Praise be to His glorious name forever, may the whole earth be filled with His glory.

Psalm 72:19

(photo taken by my husband via his new telescope:)

if I have not charity?

1 Corinthians 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity I am nothing.

The strength received from my Holy God can be enlightening to my soul. I can walk forward in confidence at times with a faith unshakable, and determination unstoppable, but without love, the Word says it is all in vain.

The world needs and must see His love in our every action . When we feed the poor,visit the sick,work at our jobs,drive down the road, check out at the grocer, we must be conscience of showing and pouring out His love. It is not an easy task in our own strength, our love is unfortunately; conditional,weak,selfish and shallow.

But our Father's love?...oh how deep! how wide! (...because of the GREAT love in which He loves us... Ephesians 2:4) it's steadfast(Deut. 7:9),enduring forever(Psalms 136:26).

Lets show everyone this deep, unspeakable,unconditional love! Every day. Let's meditate and think upon what He has done for us...how can we not love them and have not charity?

"O Father help us to show your charity, your love, your strength and compassion. That we may get out of the way and just you and only you will go forth out of our mouths and out of our hands, to be a worthy vessel for your work, not causing any to stumble. We thank you."

For Christ lives in me!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,and gave himself for me.

Christ lives in me...

When Jesus said in John 6:35 "He who comes to me will never hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst", He was not just talking about going to heaven and having eternal life. He also meant that from the very moment we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ we would be drawing from a completely new life source, a source that transforms our whole being.

"I am the bread of life", "he who eats me the same will live by me." John 6

Accepting Jesus into our hearts gives us new life and new power within us, so that we can live a completely different and victorious life,a life more pleasing to God.

John 10:10 He tells us He came to give us a life more abundant.

Let's really believe and trust in our salvation. We have the power of Christ living in us! Let's walk like we do,talk like we do. It's truth! We have power in Christ Jesus. The same Jesus who healed in His Fathers name, fed thousands from five loaves and two fish, and overloaded the fishermen's boat until they sunk. Let's not keep salvation and the gift of Jesus living in our hearts all to ourselves. His power is too big to be quiet about. Let's share it let's live it and most of all let's be joyous, because Christ Liveth in me!

"With longing all my heart is filled,

That like Him one day I will be

As on the wondrous thought I dwell

That Christ liveth in me"