The Lord made it clear to me this morning that even though I say I trust Him, I continue to carry my own burdens. How do I do this? I worry and fret, get down in the dumps.....in general, lose my peace. So He gave me the image of two baskets. . . .
As you see, my basket has a handle on it--all the better for me to carry it around! He wants me to write each of my burdens on a slip of paper and put it into MY basket. Then I'm to pull one out, pray about it as I put it into HIS basket. If I go away still feeling troubled, it's a clear indication that I put the burden back into my basket.
So why do I do this? It could be for various reasons, which is why it has not been simple for me to see. It may be that I'm feeling responsible for the trouble and have not forgiven myself for it. Continued guilt, after confession, becomes a tool of the enemy. I punish myself by continuing to carry the burden and believe I can no longer be a witness for Christ. Or, it may mean I either don't trust God to be able to take care of it, or I believe He doesn't want to. This is where my self-will comes into the matter.....I'm afraid I won't like God's solution. It's still a trust issue, because if I believe God is a good and just God, then whatever the outcome will be perfect in His Will. Lastly, I may be caught up in a spiritual battle. The evil one knows my weaknesses better than I do and will take advantage of them to thwart God's work in me. This is why prayer is so important because it keeps my thoughts centered on God. I remember reading Warren Wiersbe's words years ago that the enemy can't read our minds--he doesn't have to. He uses our own words and actions against us. In the same vein, he uses others' words and actions to attack us. If we don't believe God's opinion of us, we'll believe the world's opinion which the enemy uses to make us ineffective for God's purposes.
This is why becoming a Christian is not an automatic lease on peace! The enemy and our flesh will strive to gain a foothold in our new spiritual life. We must be on a constant vigilance to guard against these attacks. That is why we must abide in Christ--full-time. We must lay down all OUR burdens, so the enemy has no ammunition to make us doubt God.
We must become fully-trusting children, then the only burdens we carry are HIS and they are light.
Father, I shall shout ALOUD with my words and actions that You are my Lord and Savior! Help me to daily lay down my burdens to You, when I am tempted, and leave them there with You.
Link to Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30
Take Action:
Article: Choose Your Words Carefully
As you see, my basket has a handle on it--all the better for me to carry it around! He wants me to write each of my burdens on a slip of paper and put it into MY basket. Then I'm to pull one out, pray about it as I put it into HIS basket. If I go away still feeling troubled, it's a clear indication that I put the burden back into my basket.
So why do I do this? It could be for various reasons, which is why it has not been simple for me to see. It may be that I'm feeling responsible for the trouble and have not forgiven myself for it. Continued guilt, after confession, becomes a tool of the enemy. I punish myself by continuing to carry the burden and believe I can no longer be a witness for Christ. Or, it may mean I either don't trust God to be able to take care of it, or I believe He doesn't want to. This is where my self-will comes into the matter.....I'm afraid I won't like God's solution. It's still a trust issue, because if I believe God is a good and just God, then whatever the outcome will be perfect in His Will. Lastly, I may be caught up in a spiritual battle. The evil one knows my weaknesses better than I do and will take advantage of them to thwart God's work in me. This is why prayer is so important because it keeps my thoughts centered on God. I remember reading Warren Wiersbe's words years ago that the enemy can't read our minds--he doesn't have to. He uses our own words and actions against us. In the same vein, he uses others' words and actions to attack us. If we don't believe God's opinion of us, we'll believe the world's opinion which the enemy uses to make us ineffective for God's purposes.
This is why becoming a Christian is not an automatic lease on peace! The enemy and our flesh will strive to gain a foothold in our new spiritual life. We must be on a constant vigilance to guard against these attacks. That is why we must abide in Christ--full-time. We must lay down all OUR burdens, so the enemy has no ammunition to make us doubt God.
We must become fully-trusting children, then the only burdens we carry are HIS and they are light.
Father, I shall shout ALOUD with my words and actions that You are my Lord and Savior! Help me to daily lay down my burdens to You, when I am tempted, and leave them there with You.
Link to Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30
Take Action:
Article: Choose Your Words Carefully
Powerful message that I need to continue to remember & apply. The video made me cry. Thank you Sis for all of your love, comfort & sage advice. You are my "Angel". Love, Sandy
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