It has been a few months since my last post for good reason - life has just been busy and hectic. Many times I have thought, I really should post what the Lord is teaching me. I just haven't done it in awhile but today I just had to share because I think based on my conversations with other moms, homeschooling and ministry or not, that what the Lord showed me today will help someone else.
For the past couple of weeks, if I'm completely honest, I have not read my Bible (except at church). I have barely spoken to the Lord except through tears of grief. It started out as a day that I had a lot on my mind and my plate. Satan got me with the lie that I was just too overwhelmed and busy to spend time in the Word and in prayer on my knees or otherwise. I believed him. I got out of bed and immediately started about my day without so much as a thought that the Lord was exactly who was going to get me through my busy day. Needless to say, I didn't get much accomplished and I remained frustrated all day long. The next day, I awoke to thoughts of what I had to do that day since I didn't get much done the day before. Before I knew it, yesterday (Tuesday, November 27th) was here. Again, I had another frustrating, exhausting, and busy day. I realized at about 9pm last night that it had been a couple of weeks since I last really read my Bible or spent any time in fellowship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit brought to mind Lamentations 3: It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. (Lamentations 3:22-27)
As I went to sleep last night, my thoughts were His mercies are new every morning. I will not start my day without spending time with Him. As I got up this morning, those thoughts came back to my mind but were fighting with the thoughts of all that I need to get done in the next few weeks. I knew I could not go another day without spending that much need time soaking in God's Word and seeking Him first (Matthew 6:33).
I began looking for a quiet place to sit and be with the Lord but everyone was already up and there was not a quiet place in the whole house. So, I put Joshua back in his bed and I sat in the living room to read and pray. At first I had difficulty focusing on what the Lord was trying to show me as is often the case when we are out of fellowship with Him. I got to the last three verses of the passage I was reading and I just started weeping.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30
This passage has been special to me since a warm day in early June 1989. It is what was preached the night I received Christ as my personal Savior. But this morning it had a different impact. The Lord spoke to my heart and reminded me that I do not need to go through my days carrying my own burdens. They are just too heavy for me to carry. If I will come to Him, He will give me rest and I do not have to do it on my own. It hit me that God knew from the beginning of time that I would not read my Bible for the past couple of weeks and that on this very day, I would need those words of comfort and encouragement. I was wrong for not seeking His face every single day and He was still merciful to give me just what I needed for this day. Praise His Holy name!
So, if you're like me and you are finding yourself overwhelmed, discouraged, frustrated, angry, etc., don't let Satan win the small battles of life. Stay in God's Word and talk to Him. He is always there to welcome you back into that sweet fellowship. He truly is good all the time! He will carry your burdens. As I was typing this, another passage came to mind and I want to close this post with it.
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." -I Peter 5:7-11
