“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Wow, if there has ever been a time I’ve needed to live by this verse it’s been during the month of June! We moved at the beginning of June and on top of that I’ve had all of your typical beginning of summer busyness…cookouts, 4th of July festivities, camping, family get togethers, and the list goes on. Stress and busyness doesn’t even begin to describe this season of my life.
So what has God been telling me over and over again during this season
Well 2 things actually…
Take every stressful moment to him
God wants us to give him everything that is causing us to stress, worry, be short tempered, or anything that is taking our peace and joy. He wants us to live peacefully and joyfully…without stress, worry, and planning consuming our every thoughts.
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 My thoughts have to be fixed on him and not on my circumstances/worries! According to this verse in Isaiah if they aren’t fixed on him I won’t experience his perfect peace.
Let’s first look at what happens when we experience stress:
We typically get a headache, are irritable, can’t concentrate on anything good, focus on ourselves, focus solely on that thing that is causing us stress, focus on our circumstances.
Now let’s look at what happens when we don’t have stress:
We are typically joyful, happy, calm, peaceful, able to look around and have empathy/care for others needs, and aren’t self focused. We are also able to more clearly receive and live out what God has for us that day. “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” Matthew 13:22
The awesome news is we are allowed and even called to live this way because when we aren’t carrying the burden of stress, we are joyful and able to truly let God shine and work through us. We are able to effortlessly love others as God has commanded us because we have taken the focus off of ourselves and put it onto others. We can fully be everything God has created us to be when we choose to turn everything over to God and live in his peace, joy and love.“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
Focus on things that are eternal
I’m the type of person that likes to have things done right away, so the fact that my gallery wall still isn’t finished after a couple of months in the new house is driving me crazy! But while I’m focusing and stressing over this I hear God saying “Is your gallery wall eternal?”
What I mean by this is can I take it with me to heaven? NO! While it may be nice to have it finished I shouldn’t be so focused on it or give something so small such a big spot in my heart. “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:2
God and people are eternal/the things of heaven, worldly desires are not!
So while it may be my intention to love others through planning the best camping trip, or making a yummy dish for a cookout, or putting my new home together beautifully for my family to enjoy, when I let that rise to a level of consuming my thoughts, stressing me out, causing me to be irritable towards my husband, etc. thats when I have to step back, give it to God, and do it all through peace, joy, and true love! “Love is PATIENT and KIND…It is not IRRITABLE, and keeps no record of being wronged.” I Corinthians 13:4-5
What is God telling you to hand over to him?
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