The WEIGHT of THE TASK

The older I get the CHEAPER I GET. I have been a big "SPENDER" in the early parts of my life. Christmas was no exception. Stephanie was always the conservative spender. But, the longer I live the more I realize I enjoy a bank account that doesn't hover at ZERO. Now of course, when you are raising kids, a lot of your spending is beyond your control. Just the basics like food, clothing, electricity, etc., were enough to bury a checking account. Then when you add Christmas presents on top of the day-to-day expenses it makes life, financially, pretty tenuous. 

I am not sure why my mind drifted that way this morning, except I was thinking about the COST OF PEACE. Peace is expensive. No not with greenbacks or silver and gold, PEACE comes from giving up our own will, our wants, and our plan. I struggle with GIVING UP CONTROL even more than giving up my big spending habits. Even now I find myself, once in a while, slipping back into worry because MY PLANS ARE IN DANGER of FAILING. I can only restore PEACE when I yield to the PRINCE OF PEACE. Listen to Isaiah:

Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God's salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. He humbles the proud and brings down the arrogant city. He brings it down to the dust." (Isaiah 26:1-5, NLT)

I have to admit sometimes the weight of my task gets to me, even if it is only for brief moments. I want so much for our CHURCH CONGREGATION to thrive and when it looks like things are NOT PROGRESSING or there is a setback, I jump to try to take control. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME! This verse and Proverbs 3:5, "bring my back down to dust." I can drive back in to taking control so easy. I have to remind myself it is not MY plan. I am just along for the ride when I follow God's plan. He is not bringing me this far to abandon me. All I have to do is sit back, BE STILL, and wait for God. (Exodus 14:14, NLT)

I have to TRUST in the LORD to KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE. I have to give up my agenda, my plans, my timing, because I TRUST in the Lord. Perfect Peace is expensive because it costs me giving up my wants and desires and TRUSTING THE LORD. Sometimes that is easier said than done, but I am willing to pay that cost because the rewards are so great!

Heavenly Father, Forgive me for not trusting you and trying to take over your perfect plan with my very, imperfect plan. Help me to rest on your timing. Help me to be at perfect peace with my eyes fixed on you, giving up my will and replacing it with yours. Thank You Lord, I know your plan is perfect because I have seen it revealed in the past 65 years. I praise you and live each day with excitement, because I DO TRUST YOU. Amen. 

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