by George | Sep 7, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
“You Are Trying Too Hard”
“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.”
Psalm 131:1
How many times have you spent recently trying to figure things out. Why is all this stuff happening? What is the solution? Am I doing enough?
The human mind is an amazing creation of God. The average person fails to fully unlock it’s potential.
Yes, we are human. Our minds don’t know everything.
That can be frustrating sometimes, when we try and try to figure something out.
The psalmist realizes he doesn’t know everything.
He has the right attitude.
His heart is not “lifted up.”
The psalmist has the right perspective about himself.
“My eyes are not raised too high.”
A blogger who calls himself “Pastor Peter” explains it this way:
“My eyes are not raised too high. In other words, I do not live with grand illusions about me or grand expectations of me, what I can do, or my life. It is not that we have low expectations but that we know ourselves, we know the world, and, most of all, we know Christ.”
The proper perspective the psalmist has leads him to “not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.”
He realizes that he won’t understand everything.
So, we become comfortable in our own skin, knowing our limitations, and realizing that we can’t figure everything out, we rest in Him. God is all knowing!
“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
Psalm 131:2
If you are troubled today, and you can’t figure things out. Bring God your burdens, rest in Him, and listen for His still small voice.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and DO NOT LEAN TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
by George | Sep 3, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Keep Your Heart
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:23
The neighbor across the street has the best yard in the neighborhood. You never see a tall blade of grass. Not even around the edging that surrounds the flower bed. There is not a weed to be found. The bushes are trimmed uniformly near the windows.
Does this beautiful yard just happen by chance?
No, it happens by the diligent work of the neighbor.
I see him out in his yard every day, doing something to keep his yard looking this way. Cutting the grass, weed eating, turning on a sprinkler, pulling weeds by hand…
Our neighbor is “vigilant” against any weeds or tall grass that would mar the beauty of his yard.
In the same way it takes vigilance to “keep our heart.”
This passage is not referring to the blood pumping muscle inside of us, but rather to our affections.
We speak of someone we love as “having our heart.”
Who, or what has your heart?
The rich young ruler went away from Jesus, because his heart was set on his riches.
Martha’s heart was set on making a perfect dinner instead of spending time with Jesus.
Demas left Paul because he was “…in love with this present world…”
2 Timothy 4:10
Is your heart set on the tumultuous events happening around you?
Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1
Remember to love God above all else. “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37-39
Keep God first. Love Him with all of your being.
Our heart, our affections can easily be moved from God. It takes vigilance to guard our hearts from it. Keep the tall grass and weeds cut!
by George | Aug 31, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Busy, Busy, Busy!
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,”
Isaiah 30:15
Where is it written that we have to work all the time? That we need to stay busy? Perhaps we read it in a “How to Be Successful” business book, or heard a motivational speaker talk about it.
When we are constantly busy, we tend to get anxious and worried. This in turn takes our focus off of God, and on our problems.
We need a spiritual “reset.”
So, as my dad used to say, “What’s your hurry?”
Let’s sit down for a moment and consider what God is saying.
- Returning:
In this passage,
God is pleading with His people to come back to Him. But they are not willing. Seems to be the same today. It’s my prayer every day that America will return to God. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8
- Rest: If you return to God, you will find rest for your soul. Remember what Jesus said? “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
- Quietness: In that rest there will be quietness. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 I’ve been told that this verse is literally saying, “cease striving .” Be still, and listen for that still small voice.
- Trust: In returning to God, you have found rest and quietness for your soul. Naturally, your faith, your trust in God is strengthened. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Life is not easy, but if we focus on God, He will guide you. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
