Sharing our troubles

Philippians 4:14 ESV
Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

How great a blessing it is to have brothers and sisters who are willing to allow one to share one's burdens.  Certainly we all have our own burdens to bear but to take on those of another is truly a good work.

Alone is possibly one of the most tragic feelings a believer can have.  To feel that one cannot share one's burdens is a very sad feeling.  Alone is a tough thing to feel, yet it is all too common among believers.

Yes, we know that He is always with us, but it was not His plan that He be the only one who is there for us.

Galatians 6:2 ESV
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We are admonished to bear one another's burdens.  This is not optional.  This is an imperative.  But sadly, it is one that is more often avoided than embraced.

We, Patti and I, are wonderfully blessed by folks who are willing to shoulder our burdens both in prayer and engagement.  They may tire under the load but they never put it down. Even when their own loads are heavy and pressing they open their hearts and arms to ours.  It is a great gift and a great part of God's plan for His people.

God does not tell us to "fix" the burdens of others, although if we can we should, but rather to "bear" them.  The primary way we do this is by being willing to be informed of those burdens.  Unfortunately there is little place or time in the life of the Church for such things to happen.  Also, I think that we are afraid to know the burdens of others because they may impose some strong response on our part, some sacrificial response.

Knowing the burdens of another does carry it's own responsibility.  If nothing else, it carries the obligation to really pray for them and WITH them.  It is not the bullet prayer that is needed but the deep, knowledgeable, sincere and focused prayer.  It means entering their battleground with petitions and supplications on their behalf.  It also requires that we stay informed of their needs by staying engaged.  It is a sad propensity for us to hear of a burden and then avoid it for fear we will be called to actually do something regarding it.

We can testify to the wonderfulness of having brothers and sisters who engage, stay engaged and do what they can to help bear the burden.  Just the knowledge that we are remembered, especially remembered in prayer, is a comfort beyond price.  That someone is carrying us to the throne of grace is indeed a great comfort, blessing and encouragement.

Philemon 1:7 ESV
For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Troubled times....powerful prayer.

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of buckler and shield And rise up for my help. Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, "I am your salvation." Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me. Let them be like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the LORD driving them on. Let their way be dark and slippery, With the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
(Psa 35:1-6)

David presents us with a sterling example of one type of prayer we should avail ourselves of in these troubled times.  Jesus made it plain that He was sending us out as sheep among wolves and that we should be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.  Easy to say, hard to do.

But if we will regularly pray in the manner we see here I believe our hearts and minds will be encouraged and strengthened.  Such prayers are both wise and innocent and will facilitate and calmness of mind and body when we are in distress - when we must contend with the world, the flesh and the devil. 

Don't think in terms of some extraordinary event or circumstance.  Contention with the world the flesh and the devil is the norm for our lives not the exception.  Sure, it may be that at times the contention seems exceptional BUT we must remember that we are engaged in a war 24-7-365,  When we only "notice" the exceptional times of contention  we allow the enemy to gain just a little more ground on the battlefield.  We must keep the battle we are engaged in before us at all times.  There is no truce, there is no cease-fire, the battle rages even if it does so quietly and just out of sight.

In some corners of the world they are killing us.  In other corners of the work they are marginalizing us.  In still other corners of the world they are vilifying us - dehumanizing us so that we will have little value and our passing will be acceptable.

We must pray, seeking God's intervention.  Yes, there is much we can still do to address these issues that we must contend with.  But our options grow fewer and opportunities more limited.  And so we call upon our God, our defender, to do as He has promised to do and fight this fight as we never could.  We must pray for the destruction of His enemies, our enemies - which means in the end we must pray for His prompt return and His might in the mean while.

Take all such troubles to Him and call upon Him to engage the enemy.  We can only do our little part.  We can only armor up and hold the line.  We can stand and pray and David's prayer here is a good example of how our prayers should be concerning these troubled times.

 

Trusting God - Trouble (a) 021714

When we read Matthew 5 and 6 we are so blessed by the promises and assurances Jesus gives us.  There is so very much in these chapters that perhaps it is easy to miss some of it.  I've been thinking particularly of:

Matthew 6:34 ESV
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I noticed first that "tomorrow will be anxious for itself."  I am comforted that Jesus understands our anxieties.  And I am encouraged that He counsels me to accept that there will be "anxiety" in each day.

And what would I count as "anxieties?"  Well, I would consider that the word translated anxiety means to be troubled with cares so what I am anxious about is what I have both legitimate concern for and illegitimate concern for.

I'm anxious about sin.  The day is full of temptations.  Gossip, lust, lack of trust, making "my" plans, poor stewardship are all potential concerns of mine.  But I can't let their potential comsume my mind.

I do however need to responsible for these temptations.  So in order to not be anxious about sin I need to prepare my mind and heart every morning for the coming day.  My days being pretty much a regular routine, I know when and how I'll be tempted for the most part.  I know where to divert my mind and my eyes.  I know when I need to pray and pretty much what I need to pray for.  But all of that is adressed early in the day before I leave home.

We, I think, are anxious in direct proportion to our lack of knowledge of our hearts and our failure to prepare ourselves for the day's trials and temptations.  I know that if I just rush into a day and fly on auto-pilot I not only miss the opportunity to avoid sin but I miss His blessings that come throughout the day.

Are you anxious about sin?  I think most of us are more anxious after the fact than before it.  But we can and need to get ahead of it by preparing ourselves for what we know is coming.  We must prepare our selves for that battle we fight every minute of every day and we need to prepare in His presense.

Lord, I go forth today in Your name and by Your power.  I enter the battle once more calling upon You to strengthen me and guide me; protect me and preserve me.  Make me more sensitive to temptations Lord.  It's so easy to get caught up in sinful things when I am insensitive to them.  Make my heart sensitive and my mind aware of what may come and what does come in the way of temptation and Lord grant that I might resist and where I fail to resist bring me to repentance  Amen

Trusting God Today 021314

Trusting God  Today

We all know Jesus' teaching about God's provision for each day.  But do we ever just sit and think that through?  I don't think many of us do.  We're so caught up in the hustle of the everyday that we just let the day go by without reflecting on how He did provide for us.

It's good to take time at the end of the day to reflect back on how the God who in in charge of everything provided for you during the day.  And don't just think about all He gave you - think as well of what you avoided - what might have happened that didn't.

I know we shouldn't engage in "vain repetitions" in prayer and I emphasize the word "vain."  But I often pray, "Just today Lord, help me focus on just today," over and over as I start my day.  So many thing press in upon my heart and mind that if I don't don't do that then I am distracted in the rest of my prayer by things in the future (both real and imagined).

God is the God of eternity - and He is the God of right now as well.  I live in the right now - I hope in eternity.  I fight to keep my focus on my "right now" needs as I go through the day - looking for His hand in events and circumstances.  I want Him to be my God "today," in each moment.

Yes, I  pray over future events and worries but I only know I have this moment and in this moment I want to be trusting Him.  It's surprising how difficult it is to do - or rather how easy it is to not do.

Perhaps that is why we are encouraged to "pray always."  Perhaps it is in keeping this attitude of prayer that we are able to live in each moment of each day more aware of His providence and care.

I hope I'm making some kind of sense.  Brothers and sisters we only have right now and we only have right now to serve Him in and be thankful in.  Should we not take advantage of it?  Should we not seek His help in focusing on today as today unfolds?  How much do we miss when we are so distracted from God in our lives right now?

Today I will trust God for today.  He has promised me eternity and not tomorrow.  So all I have is today in which to serve and honor Him.  Today certainly has enough trouble but it has blessings as well.  I know I won't miss the first and I know I do not want to miss the second.  I pray I may live today - today - and know His work in my life more intimately and consistently.

Unwitting Servant? 012213

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Mat 6:24)

These are the words with which Jesus begins His teaching concerning - well, concern, worry, fear, anxiety, etc.

I think I am learning more about this as every day passes.  If God is God and He is my God (and I am His child) then what Jesus says after this is wonderful news.  But if I have been seduced and blinded by sin, if I have bought into the world's game plan then perhaps it is still wonderful news but it is frightening news as well.

I must confess that I can see a "two master" part in my heart and mind.  All my worry and anxiety comes from a fear of not having, well, money.  When I had money I was at peace.  Now that money is scarce I find my peace fluctuating and my anxiety gripping me terribly at times.

Is it indeed a desire to trust two mutually exclusive masters that causes me so much distress?  I really have to admit that I really think it is.  My thoughts, at times, seem to revolve around the lack of Mammon and what that may bring with it.  

How can I claim to be His when I struggle so much with my dependency upon Mammon - my fear concerning it - my very real and practical need for it?  

It has been tough times for a lot of us.  But I haven't missed a meal, I have clothes, I have shelter, I even have gas in my car.  So why am I anxious?  Simple, there are coming needs I know and coming needs I suspect and coming needs I know nothing of that taunt me and rattle my cage.  While all the time (today) I am well provided for.

And who, pray tell, other than my God can I thank for this?  No one!  Today I am well - very well cared and provided for.  More than I need today!  

I'll be honest enough to tell you a big factor is, "What will people think?"  Will they think me a fool, irresponsible, a wastrel, a bum, a nut?  We have lived our lived committed to serving Him (poorly but sincerely) trusting Him in what we believed was our calling and He has never failed us.  

But even though we have surrendered many things our culture tells us we are supposed to "have," and "do," I have not really let go of it all.  I still had to have what I wanted but did not need.  So as we struggle I have to take my licks and learn my lesson that I have flirted with and at times surrendered to the lust o the eye, the lust o the flesh and OH boy - the pride of life.  

I write this and am doing this series in order to grow.  Perhaps you will see some of yourself in what I am learning - perhaps not.  But I pray God will bring me to His peace which is only found when I look only to Him for it.  I must hate that "other" god I have danced with and stand with my true God.

May God bless you, comfort you and strengthen you as He walks with you through whatever circumstance you find yourself in.