Turn It Over!
When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, Are you the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else? (Matthew 11:2-3)
Sometimes I make a prison for myself. I put myself in prison to a thought or a feeling or an attitude that binds me.
I remember a time when our sons were young and I was not making much money as a pastor of two churches in the countryside. I wrongly thought to myself, I am just working to pay bills. I am on a treadmill. My income is barely sufficient to pay for our basic needs. I am living paycheck to paycheck. I felt like I was in a financial prison. So I prayed about the matter. And here is what the Lord told me.
Darryl, you have it all upside down. There you are, doing what I had called you to do, married to your sweetheart, with three young sons, everyone in good health. Count your blessings, man! So you do not have much money, but look around, fellow! You are free to give yourself to your churches, your wife, your sons, and to Me! Money comes and goes. This time, too, shall pass. Set your mind on things above, rise out of your prison of self-defeat. I will be with you!
A peace came over me from that day. And I learned a valuable lesson: When ever a wrong thought, feeling, or attitude tries to put me in a prison of my own making, I just pray about it. And God shows me how to turn it over and see it from the sunny side, the side of God's blessings, which are all around.
Comments
Very timely devotion for me Darryl. We are at a stage in life with limited income and sometimes I worry about how we will meet our expenses. But in the meantime, my husband is free to have ministry with teenagers, teach a Physics class for homeschoolers, attend a Bible study with a men's group, and write a book on Creation Science.
I have the time to write devotional blogs, attend women's Bible study and be involved with my family of four married kids who love the Lord and our thirteen grandchildren. So we don't have money? We have riches untold! Thank you!