When my life gets complicated (is it ever
simple?) I tend to awaken sometime around 3 AM.
My thoughts begin, moving from personal things, to church matters, to
unfinished business, to plans, to my children, to the last sermon I preached
and the next one I’ll preach – in a tumbling, random manner. I watch the time pass on the bedside clock,
sometimes frustrated, but usually choosing to use those wakeful moments to
carry people and problems into the Presence of the Lord. They are quiet prayers,
more like murmurs of my heart. They are not
eloquent but flow out of my longing for His wisdom, for His Kingdom to come;
first in my heart and then in my world!
Two decades ago, those times in the middle of
the night would often cost me the rest of the night's rest. No
more! Now, I take them as an
opportunity to spend some time with God: sometimes wordlessly turning each
concern to Him, sometimes matching need to Scripture promise, sometimes just
breathing a quiet, "Jesus, be Lord!" And, after an hour or so, I rest again,
knowing that my Father cares for me.
Note the point and
counter-point in this word- “Cast all
your anxiety on him because He cares
for you. Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to
devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your
brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And
the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you
have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong,
firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1
Peter 5:5-11, NIV) The NLT says, “Give your worries to God … be careful!” We are called to rest on Him with a trust that
whole and childlike, knowing that He already has made provision for us. And yet, we must keep our wits about us. God’s
care does not relieve us of our responsibilities.
The error some of us make is in trying to be
God! We can never control every outcome. The Psalmist wrote, {127:1-2}
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is
useless.
Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do
no good.
It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until
late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved
ones.
However, we know that God expects us to be
diligent, to apply ourselves to gaining wisdom, to be fully engaged with life
as we seek to make a Kingdom difference. If we are anxious to prove our
worth by our work, if we attempt to nail down every variable as we try to
secure ourselves against all threats, stress
will overwhelm us.
We build a house, but only God controls the
wind, the flood, the earthquake that can level it!
We post our guard to drive away thieves and robbers but only God can secure us against the wily, evil that comes from the Devil and those who do his work.
We diligently apply ourselves to getting the seed into the soil, but only God can make it grow!
We post our guard to drive away thieves and robbers but only God can secure us against the wily, evil that comes from the Devil and those who do his work.
We diligently apply ourselves to getting the seed into the soil, but only God can make it grow!
We are thrifty and prepare for the winters of
life, but only God can guarantee our home in Heaven.
Thus, Solomon, the writer of this Psalm, urges
us to set aside anxiety and to trust our Sovereign Lord.
Read it again: "If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?" (Psalm 127, The Message)
Jesus says, "Why be
like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly
Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day
to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary
concern."If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?" (Psalm 127, The Message)
Take this word from the Word and draw strength
from the picture it paints.
"This is what the Lord says: "At just the right time, I
will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them." (Isaiah 49:8, NLT)
"See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of (your need)." (Isaiah 49:16, NLT)
I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them." (Isaiah 49:8, NLT)
"See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of (your need)." (Isaiah 49:16, NLT)
________________
How
Great Is Our God (Chris
Tomlin sings)
The splendor of the
King,
Clothed in majesty,
Let all the earth
rejoice,
All the earth rejoice!
He wraps Himself in
light,
And darkness tries to
hide,
And trembles at His
voice,
And trembles at His
voice!
How great is our God!
Sing with me,
How great is our God!
And all will see, how
great,
How great is our God!
And age to age He
stands,
And time is in His
hands,
Beginning and the End!
Beginning and the End!
The Godhead, three in
one,
Father, Spirit, Son,
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb!
Name above all names.
Worthy of all praise.
My heart will sing,
How great is our God!
Chris
Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves
©
2004 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
worshiptogether.com
songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Wondrously
Made Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
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