I can't even do today! That was the main cry of my prayer yesterday. "Lord, I can't even do today but I can do right now, this minute."
I don't know about you, but I am so thankful that God doesn't dust His hands off and say enough. I am thankful that He doesn't give up on me, that I truly am a work in progress.
I get up everyday with such good intentions to focus on Him but before I know it I am knee deep in my circumstances either trying to make something happen or worrying about what might happen. I need those blinders that they put on horses so they can only look straight ahead.
This week in Jesus Calling, it said that to try to grasp hold of anything other than the hand of God is disasterous to your soul. In my mind I visualize it as grasping something and then having it run through your hands like sand. And yet, I still reach for it. I still reach for any bit of control I can have. I still reach for things that appear so appetizing to me even though I know there is no substance there.
I know this is the lesson I am to learn from the events in my life over the last few months. My life right now is not in my control and that is driving me nuts. I can't focus on The Hand that I should be grabbing hold to for being so focused on other things. Help me Sweet Jesus!
I was so challenged during Bible Study last night by Paul's opening statement in Ephesians 3. I will go ahead and tell you that I never really give a whole lot of thought to the greetings. I read through them quickly to get to the rest of the passage. Well last night God stopped me at verse one and I really didn't hear much else of what was said because I was having my own internal lesson.
Ephesians 3:1 states "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you Gentiles"
Paul was writing this from prison...talk about circumstances. Paul's focus is what struck me. He doesn't say I'm a prisoner of the people that actually imprisoned him. He has a much grander viewpoint and states that he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ. His focus is not on his earthly circumstances. He is not sitting around focusing on how he is locked up. He gives no mention to that. But what he does mention is that when we become a follower of Christ we die to ourselves and we give our lives to Him. We are in essence His prisoner. And no matter what our circumstances are we are serving The One who has a grander plan and purpose.
That is so hard to live, so very hard. I stink at it. It is not in my power to do it, but when I die to Laurie and grab hold of His hand it's possible. It's the only way!
The great news is that His hand is outstretched just waiting for us to grab hold of it. So stretch your fingers and reach for it. He will never, ever let go!
Leave me a comment letting me know your thoughts on this. It's always good to know we are not alone in our struggles!
