Many things

This week has been full of teaching moments for me.

And I’m the student.

The Lord has used this busy week to squeeze and some of the attitudes which came out were not honorable.

Like the moment when I felt the Lord’s leading to do something and my first reaction was:

“I don’t want to.”

I was embarrassed by my two-year-old response, asked the Lord for forgiveness, and did what He asked.

But my “mouthing off”, in my heart, had closed the communication.

I couldn’t hear the Lord while I completed the task.

Much later, I related to my husband the lesson.

Several times this week, I’ve had to take captive my thoughts, as a dart of fear has crossed my mind.

“What if…?!”

I’d begin to feel frightened and then remember:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

“Lord, I am feeling afraid of the future, but I trust You with it, no matter the outcome.”

“You have to get that done or else…!”

Being weary in body, I’d groan inwardly at the lack of ability to complete something else.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…

“Lord Jesus, I want to know Your priorities, please help me not to act out of fear.”

“You need to make this happen because…!”

“Lord, this doesn’t sound like You. Jesus, please help me not to be afraid. I don’t want to do anything in my own strength. Lord, I don’t know what to do to resolve this, please guide me. Please guard my heart from my own flesh which seeks it’s own good.”

Then there was yesterday.

A circumstance occurred which my husband handled in a way I didn’t expect and placed us in a bind.

My week of guarding against walking in the flesh helped and I heard the Lord remind my heart to trust my husband.

Rather than ask my husband why he responded as he did or try to jump in and “fix”, I simply asked him:

“Okay, what’s the plan now?”

His response was brief, “I don’t know.”

It was tempting to offer suggestions, to point out a quick solution, to give him the “we need…!”.

Thankfully, I didn’t do anything, besides pray.

Yes, some of those prayers were borderline to worrying, but I was being honest with my emotions, laying myself before my Heavenly Father, and trusting Him.

Part of the struggle in this is my husband will be gone all day today, first to work and then to help someone from our church move.

Jase is going with his dad, to help, and Anne is working from afternoon till closing.

There’s a lot which needs tending to today and I’m the only one with time to do them.

This truth seemed to rub my mind, like a loose thread I couldn’t pull nor cut off.

Until, I woke this morning.

It’s a blessing to help others.

Snip!

That thread was broken instantly, and I thanked the Lord for another lesson.

Jesus is our example in all things.

He was constantly serving people, whether it was healings, teachings, or through compassion, like blessing the little children.

We too are supposed to be living daily, diligent about our own work, but willing to help others, loving and serving as He did.

Serving is often costly.

It requires us to give in one way or another.

It, like every other area of our lives, needs to be led by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

When we are walking in His ways and truth we need not allow fear to trample our faith, even when the service to others puts us in a bind.

For Christ gave not just of His time and talents, He gave His life.

John 15:13 KJV — Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 3:16 KJV — Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for this week. Thank You for the lessons You are teaching me. Thank You for helping me learn to listen and obey. Thank You for teaching me to keep every thought captive and to compare it with scripture before acting upon it or accepting it and dwelling on it. Please continue to hone my heart, I want to be honorable before You. Lord, thank You for Your truth and example. Thank You for reminding me of what is truly important. Lord, You know what is best and I trust You to guide and direct both myself and my husband. Please show us what You want us to do today. I give You tomorrow and trust You to handle it, for I know today holds enough trouble, I need not borrow any from tomorrow. Thank You, Jesus for providing for us. Thank You for being our Maker and the One who saved us from sin and death. Thank You for continuing to teach and love me as I walk each day. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

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