Author: marquitabp

Wash it ALL away

 

"Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble."  Psalm 55:22

 

Ahh!  I have a work holiday today, and its been raining since last night. But its quiet so I'm very happy!!  Even though the evil woman upstairs always parks in my space, her stinky dogs have fleas which have somehow migrated into my apartment and bite me all up, they stomp and walk hard all day, and with a hurt foot I could really use the parking space back, I'm okay–no complaints, things could be much worse.  I do not know about you, but I cry a lot.  Not always because something bad is going on, but because it helps me release my frustrations.  My tears, much like this rain, helps to wash away my worries and cares.  Being an independent-minded individual, I usually hold everything to myself and have found it very hard to turn my burdens over to God.  But then I realize the only person I am hurting is myself, carrying something I was not made or created to carry. 

 

In Luke 10:41-42, Jesus tells Martha, Lazarus' sister, that she is worried and upset about many things.  Mainly because she was cooking and serving everyone while Mary, her sister, was sitting and listening intently to Jesus.  Had she simply took time to spend with Him, maybe some other idea would have come about so she did not have to do anything.  Sometimes things in life get us so riled up that we worry and fret and stress over them without first considering God.  I suspect that we should first go to Him with any troubles that may arise and then if He tells us to do something about them, do it!  Spend time in His presence to gain the clarity and peace that only He can give.  If you try to do it yourself, you can be led to make bad decisions and mistakes–"Do not fret–it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:8

 

I guess that was why my heart was so heavy; I was too busy being angry and worried about things.  Thanks to one of my bffs yesterday giving me good news and me talking to God I feel much better.(Proverbs 12:25)  Worrying is not a hard thing to do, considering going to the doctor and getting bad reports on things.  But resting in God and bringing it all to Him in prayer has lightened my load, and washed them all away.  So I'm going to enjoy this day at home and get as much rest and "work" done as I can…gonna work on school applications and looking up different programs.  Be blessed and don't get wet if you're out in this mess!

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

Trusting in and Appreciating the Gifts You were Given

 

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"  Romans 8:32

 

Hi!

 

I wish the sun would have been out today; would have helped to brighten my mood.  I hope you had a good day!  My foot still hurts and it actually feels worse when I elevate it, kinda weird huh? 

 

Anyway, after yesterday's devotion, I wanted to elaborate more on Joseph.  Joseph was the first-born son of Isaac through Rebekah, his treasured and hard-earned wife, and born during his old age.  So Joseph held special favor with his father.  Joseph was also born with a gift of dreaming and interpreting the dreams.  After dreaming that his brothers would bow to him, plus their dad loving him more than all of them, they hated him and plotted to kill him.(Genesis 37:1-20)

All this hatred and opposition did not stop Joseph from trusting in God and the gifts He gave him.  Because one of his brothers was trying to save him, Joseph was not killed, and instead, his jealous brothers sold him into slavery.  Joseph eventually works in Potiphar's house, is blessed with success by the Lord, and then is blackmailed by Potiphar's wife.  Joseph is jailed, then uses the gifts that God gave him, and is elevated by Pharaoh.(Genesis 39, 40, 41)

 

After all of the trouble that Joseph went through with his own family–dream killers–God still favored Joseph and blessed him.  Even when those closest to him betrayed him, God delivered him and gave him favor.  "Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God.  He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."  Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

 

God blessed Joseph; he delivered him and prospered him because Joseph continued to trust in God.  He put God first and trusted in his gifts and talents.  He used his gifts whenever they were needed and always gave glory to God in doing it.  He could have easily succumbed to doubt and fear after his own flesh and blood betrayed him.  He could have committed to quitting after being wrongly accused by his master's wife.  He even stayed in jail an additional two years after the butler forgot about him.  But because he trusted in the gifts God gave him and put them to use, Joseph was favored by God.

 

Remember, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  James 1:17  And Psalm 21:2 promises that God will grant us the desires of our hearts and will not withhold the requests of our lips…So trust in everything about God: His Word, His promises, His Son, and His love.

 

Be blessed!