We live in a time where society exalts the workaholic. We are always on the go. We have access to the world at our fingertips but manage to feel more lonely than we ever have.
I just want to share a thought with you, a daily thought. Yes, go after the dreams God has placed in your heart. Check off that thing on your bucket list. Write the vision and make it plain. But also rest. Rest is important for your body, mind, and emotions. Without rest, stress can take over and cause things to happen that throw us off course. We can’t think straight when we’re stressed. We don’t always make good decisions when we’re overwhelmed. And for those who feel guilty for resting, why work so hard and can’t enjoy the fruit of your labor? Rest is a principle in the Bible. When God made Heaven and Earth, He rested on the seventh day. It was not that He had to, but He chose to teach us in that moment that rest is a part of us trusting in Him. The emails that are not finished can wait until tomorrow. The pile of chores will be there when we wake up. Just rest. Work, but rest. It’s important. Think about it.
1 Comment
Ever had a conflict inside of yourself? A part of you wants to do one thing and another part of you doesn’t? I call this an internal frustration. Many of us deal with this. But what we do not want is for this to turn into doublemindedness. James 1:8 in the AMP says that a doubleminded man is unstable in everything he thinks, feels, and decides.
To be doubleminded is to literally try to function and live from two minds. This is not just mere indecisiveness. This is an internal conflict to the degree where we’re trying to live like two people. Doublemindedness wants both options; it can’t choose. It’s wanting to be friends with someone while treating them with a cold shoulder at the same time. It’s wanting that business opportunity to become available but too afraid of the responsibilities. It’s two opposing vantage points trying to operate through the same person. Do you have internal frustration? What’s keeping you from choosing what God is saying? What belief allows the thoughts of darkness to linger in your thought life? Write down the things you’re torn about. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to make the decision that pleases His heart. In nutrition, empty calories are in foods that are loaded in sugar and very minimal in nutrition. In other words, they taste great, but they provide nothing for the body to absorb to be well. We may even feel good when we eat empty calories. Our endorphins may rise and cause us to feel like we’re in a euphoric state of mind. But even that euphoric feeling doesn’t supply nutrients to the body when we consume calories that are void of benefits.
As it is in the natural, it is also in the Spirit. What are we digesting that’s empty? What conversations are we engaging in that do not provoke spiritual nourishment? I know some of those things may feel good to you but is it good for you? Here’s a thought. At some point in time, the issues we deal with will sober us up. If we truly want to be healed, we will be faced with strong truths. In our healing process we will be chewing on a spiritual diet that may not taste good but will certainly be nutritious to our souls so we can be well. So this week, let’s monitor what we’re eating spiritually. Let’s check our spiritual diet. Our very wellness depends on it. Selah. I have a serious question to ask you? Who told you that? I know I’m being a little forthright but think about it. A lot of what we’ve been told was not Biblical, nor was it God’s will for our lives.
So who told you that you had to be married by a certain age? Who told you that the perfect family included two children, a dog, and a house on a hill? Who told you that your ministry is just behind the pulpit? Who told you? These things begin to shape our desires until we begin to go after what someone else wants. In other words, we can be pursuing someone else’s dreams and callings. Dangerously, people tend to live vicariously through us, claiming that the Lord told them things to tell us, but the voice was actually their own fears. And just because you don’t do things the way everyone wants you to do them doesn’t mean you’re outside of God’s will. Follow God’s voice, and those who speak on His behalf will resonate His heart. Unhealthy loyalty is feeling as if loving a person means to accept every bit of advice they give, even if it’s not wise counsel. And on the flip side, some people believe that they are not loved unless people do everything they tell them to do. Neither is healthy. Love gives a choice, so we should be given the opportunity to choose the path God is leading us on, even if a part of that plan involves not receiving advice from someone we really love and care about. That doesn’t mean we don’t love them; it just means we’re hearing the Lord say to go another way. So I’m going to ask you again…who told you? To truly pursue after what God has for you, you must detox from the desires that are not your own. Selah. |
I love to journal my thoughts I receive in prayer. "Chronicles" is my journey I'm sharing with you. Archives
December 2022
|