Lord Give Us Rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

  

  I had just come through one of my worst times of asthma and allergy problems. Throughout much of the allergy season I was taking antibiotics and Prednisone so I could breathe. As the cold weather arrived, my allergy and asthma nightmare ended. But then my back began to hurt and give me trouble. 

  I prayed to the Lord for both healing and a season of rest. I needed a season of rest. Within, I felt the Lord impress upon me that my back problem would soon be gone. Nevertheless, I said to the Lord: “Can’t I have a season free of problems? Some time without additional issues?” 

  It seems we get very little rest on this earth. If a calamity is not affecting us, it is affecting our friends or family. Though we have many blessings, and God is good to us in more ways than we can count, trials often arrive one after another. 

  When we are hurting, suffering, or facing a new trial, we feel frustrated and discouraged. We can lose sight of the multitude of blessings God gives us when instead we are focused on the thorns and difficulties in our lives. Often, we must take a step back, take our eyes off of our troubles, and remember how often God has blessed us. God helps us through many things throughout our lives. Recalling this fact can help put our present afflictions into perspective. 

  As new problems arise, try to recall old blessings, and cumulative blessings God has poured into your life. The present pain gets our attention, but often such things come and go. Yet God’s ever-present help continues. His strength is everlasting, and our position with Him is unchanging. We are the blessed children of God no matter what trials come into our lives. The Lord gives us peace and rest now, and everlasting peace and rest in the world to come. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, life frustrates us with its trials and afflictions. Give us strength, peace, and rest, we pray. Amen. 

Our Heroes

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20 

  

  I grew up watching the American actor Michael Landon on television. He starred as “Little Joe” on the TV Western “Bonanza”. Then throughout my childhood Mr. Landon starred as the father on “Little House On The Prairie”. Yet later he was an angel on “Highway To Heaven”. Michael Landon played a heroic character in many television episodes. Yet few know that he saved his suicidal mother’s life when she tried to drown herself. He was a hero on screen and off. 

  We all need heroes and ethical characters to emulate. I am old enough to have been blessed by having many such characters to view on television, and in everyday life I was surrounded by people in church that held fast to the Christian ethics and values that are becoming rare in our culture today. What my generation took for granted, too few young people will ever experience when it comes to Judeo-Christian values in popular culture and as examples in their lives. 

  The greatest hero that ever lived was Jesus Christ. He set an example we all should emulate. He sacrificed Himself for humanity. While on earth Jesus fed, healed, restored, and delivered people in dire circumstances. He also paved the way to eternal life for us all through His death and sacrifice. This is a “Highway To Heaven” indeed!  

  I thank God I had heroes on television and all around me during my childhood and youth. How important it is today to be real life heroes and good examples of the Christian life to the younger generations around us. How we live, and what we do, matters more than we realize. 

  Be a hero to those around you. Live a faithful loving life. Help those needing a hand up from discouragement and despair. Depend upon the Lord to lead you in a way that will make others want to emulate the Jesus in you! 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us for the times we have not lived up to the virtuous life You called us to. Help us to be better examples going forward. Help us to be like You in all things Jesus. Amen. 

The Gospel Is The Power Of God

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:6 (KJV) 

  

  Placing your focus upon the Good News of Jesus Christ must be your first priority when you feel yourself growing weak spiritually. The Bible brings us the teachings and thoughts of Jesus. The Holy Spirit has literally put the power of God into written and spoken words that come from the Bible. It is not a mystery where the Christian must go when thirsting for the power of God. 

  The Bible, imbued by Holy Spirit power, affects our mind and spirit as we drink from its well. We need the power of God. 

  Prayer is a wonderful habit that brings huge blessings, and it is good to pray when we are in trouble. Yet I have a concern that Bible reading is too often neglected by the Christian in need. I know this can be an issue because when I am exhausted it is easy to neglect the word of God, but that is a terrible mistake to make. There are audio Bibles, and smart phone Bible applications that can make it easier to access the word of God. You need only close your eyes and listen to an audio version of the Bible to be strengthened by the Word. 

  If you need power, if your spiritual strength is low, you need God’s word. The Gospel feeds our faith, drives away fear, lifts our mind from dark thoughts into the light of His glorious presence through the Holy Scripture. There is great power in the word of God. 

  The enemy will try to distract us in numerous ways, but one of the biggest mistakes we can make is allowing our sword, the Bible, to be far from us and neglect its precious pages. You are unarmed for the fight with the enemy of your soul if you are without the Word of God. The Gospel is the Power of God! 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us for the times we have neglected Your Word. Keep us always hungry and thirsty for the Holy Scripture. It is both our power and the Good News that gives us Your precious promises. Amen. 

From Darkest Day To Brightest Night

even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:12 

  

  It was a bad day. I was alone. I was very sick. Emotionally I was wreck. And then it came, suicidal depression and panic-filled anxiety. I had been there before. 

  The enemy does not wait until you are in a room full of praying Christians to attack. No, he is a predator. He wants to attack the weak, those apart from the herd, those who are confused, those who are vulnerable. 

  First, I prayed. Then I took medication to help with the symptoms. Then I did my best to steady my thoughts and emotions and put things into perspective. I recalled scripture such as: 

  

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 

  

and: 

  

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5 

  

  I survived the assault as I had many times before. By the next evening I could not believe how different, how much better everything was. I felt better, my mind was clear, I was stronger, and the enemy was nowhere to be seen. I even said to myself: The next time the enemy attacks remind yourself of how much better you feel right now, one day after. As dark as it was yesterday, by tonight you feel like a different person. 

  Experience was on my side. God was on my side. The power of the word of God was on my side. I survived because I had help from above. Yet it causes me to think about those who do not have God on their side, and are weak and helpless.  

  God turned my darkest day into brightest night. That is how my God works. He is there for every believer in their worst tests and trials. If you do not know Him, call upon the Name of Jesus for salvation. You do not want to be alone with a Predator with no help from above. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for hearing my prayers and coming to my aid yet again. Keep us from the power of the enemy, turn our darkest days into brightest nights. Amen. 

  

They Follow In Our Footsteps

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. Psalm 73:2 

  

  One of my favorite stories was told by my great-grandmother. On the mountains of eastern Tennessee, there was a few inches of snow one winter. A man was out in his yard and noticed something going on behind him. Turning around he found his young daughter. He asked her what she was doing. She said: “I’m following in your footsteps”. In a moment of revelation, the man said to her: “Then I must give you better footsteps to follow in.” 

  My great-grandmother related that she was so impressed with that man. He turned his life around and became a wonderful example for his children to follow after. 

  I have been thinking much lately about all the good Christian examples in my life. The strong Baptist Preacher I grew up with who was so calm and mild-mannered. My Sunday School teacher of that same church who was a soft-spoken godly man. The adult Sunday School teacher of my later years who had such a passion for the word of God that it was contagious.  

  Godly people stand out in our lives and our memories. We look up to them. We want to be like them. And I think we make a mistake if we do not realize people are also watching us, looking at our behavior, as we influence the lives of those around us. 

  The footsteps we walk in are important. There must be less of us and more of Jesus in our lives. I cringe at the times there was too much of me and too little of Jesus in my life and behavior. Our testimony matters. Our life and the way we live it matters. Let’s be an example that the Lord Himself would be proud of. Let’s walk in a way that pleases our Master. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, too often we make life about us rather than about You. Forgive us, and help us to leave wonderful footsteps others follow in. Amen.