Unnecessary Burdens

"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." Words of Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30

"Come;" -"He drives none away; He calls them to Himself. Not to doctrine, ordinance, nor ministry are we to come first, but to the personal Saviour" Spurgeon

He calls to all those who are heavy burdened.  Jesus wants us to rest in Him, not our self-sufficiency.

"According to Carson, labor implies the burdens we take upon ourselves and heavy laden implies the burdens others put upon us.

The yoke of Jesus is:

-easy and light compared with the yoke of others-

-easy and light as long as we do not rebel against it-

-the yoke of Jesus does not include the burdens we choose to add to it- (Guzik)

"Jesus' nature is meek and lowly, He displays a servant's heart, making Him qualified to be the one who bears our burdens. His gift-rest for our souls.  His yoke is easy and light, BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE BEARING THE YOKE."  Guzik

I recently told a friend of mine that I feel a lot like David.  David seemed to spend a lot of time running and hiding in caves from King Saul. (Why does it seem the innocent tend to do the running and the hiding?  Shouldn't it be the guilty?)

Yes, I've been hiding in a cave.  Trying to protect myself from getting hurt; but the Lord recently gave me a 'lightbulb' moment!

I have been handling my problem incorrectly and it's because I am the one handling the problem!

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22

I do cast my burdens on the Lord, and guess what?  I tend to draw them back in with my net and try to carry them myself.  When I do that, not only do I draw the burdens I casted onto the Lord in the first place, but my net is picking up other trash along the way.  Trash like, "I think I can handle this myself after all," or "What if....?"   or how about, "Why?" 

I've just allowed my burden to increase; I feel my knees buckling from under the weight.  I try to carry it just a little bit longer.  

I'm reminded again, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Ok, Lord, I hear You...

        I will surrender my burdens at Your feet...

            Help me leave them there...

                But that's just me!

"The daily troubles we have are meant to drive us to God."  Spurgeon

100%

"The Word of God is a lamp by night, a light by day, and a delight at all times."

Charles Spurgeon

"Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it." Psalm 119:140

When I read this verse in my devotion today, I couldn't help but notice 'very' before the word 'pure.'  

Then I started thinking about how Purell is only 99.9 % pure; Lysol is only 99.9% pure, and yet we trust both products to sanitize our hands and surfaces.

If God's Word is 100% pure, (and it is) why do we tend to only trust it 99.9 % of the time depending on what our situation or circumstances of life may be?

God's word is 100% pure.  There are no defects.  There is nothing lacking.  It does not need to be mixed with any other thing to make it 100% pure:  it is VERY pure.

So, how often do I bathe myself in God's Word?

Because His Word is pure, when I read it, when I practice its precepts, when I accept its promises, when I allow it to identify sin in my life so that I can confess it and forsake it, then my heart, life and service to my Lord will become clear, pure and fit for His use.

His Word promises to cleanse me from all unrighteousness.

Because I can trust God's Word completely, I love it, and the amount of time I spend in God's Word will measure my love for His Word.

I want to be purified by God's Word...

    100% Every day...

        But that's just me!

"If your mind is filled with the Word of God, then it can't be filled with impure thoughts."

David Jeremiah

The Heart of God

"God chose to love you, not for a time, but forever." Charles Spurgeon

"We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

The heart of God is meek and lowly- Matthew 11:29

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3

Jesus loves us the same way the Father loves Him-John 15:9a

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

We cannot be separated from the love of God-Romans 8:35,38-39

The love of God constraineth us-2 Corinthians 5:14

God loves us with His great love-Ephesians 2:4

God is love-1 John 4:8,16

God loves unconditionally- Mark 10:21

God loves those who love His commandments- John 14:21

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10

God rebukes, chastens and corrects those He loves- Proverbs 3:12

God loveth the righteous- Psalm 146:8

God loves those who love His Son- John 16:27

God's lovingkindness is excellent- Psalm 36:7

God's lovingkindness is better than life- Psalm 63:3

God's lovingkindness and mercies have been ever of old- Psalm 25:6

God is full of compassion- Psalm 78:38

"But thou, O LORD, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalm 86:15, Psalm 111:4b, Psalm 145:8

The LORD'S tender mercies are great- Psalm 119:156

I believe the Heart of God is summed up in this one precious verse:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

To know the heart of God...

    Is to know His Son Jesus...

        But that's just me!

The Word of God

"If you wish to know God, you must know His word." Charles Spurgeon

The Word of God is precious-1 Samuel 3:1

The Word of God is tried- 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 18:3

The Word of God never fails-1 Kings 8:56

The Word of God is good- 2 Kings 20:19

The Word of God is right- Psalm 33:4

The Word of God made the heavens and the host of them- Psalm 33:6

We should hide God's Word in our hearts- Psalm 119:11

The Word of God is settled in Heaven forever- Psalm 119:89

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee- Psalm 119:11

The Word of God is pure- Psalm 119:140, Proverbs 30:5

The Word of God is true from the beginning and endureth forever- Psalm 119:160

The Word of God is magnified above all thy name- Psalm 138:2b

The Word of God shall stand forever- Isaiah 40:8

The Word of God shall not return void- Isaih 55:11

The Word of God is the joy and rejoicing of my heart- Jeremiah 15:16

The Word of God is as a burning fire- Jeremiah 20:9, Jeremiah 23:29, Luke 24:32

The Word of God giveth strength- Joel 2:11

"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

The Word of God is power- Luke 4:32

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14

The Word of God was fulfilled- John 19:30

The Word of God is truth- John 17:17, James 1:18

The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit- Ephesians 6:17

The Word of God is not bound- 2 Timothy 2:9

The Word of God is Faithful- Titus 1:9

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God framed the worlds- Hebrews 11:3

The Word of God lives and abides forever- 1 Peter 1:23

The Word of God endures forever- 1 Peter 1:25

The Word of God is more sure word of prophecy- 2 Peter 1:19

His Name is The Word of God- Revelation 19:19

Words spoken by God were words of comfort and joy.

His words brought peace and removed fear.

Promises spoken were never broken.

His Word always comes to pass.

His words cast out demons and healed the sick.

His words were loud, whispered, and sometimes even silent.

His words rebuked in righteous anger, called the dead back to life, and saved sinners. (Like me!)

He spoke Creation into being and His words gave New Life.

At times He spoke in Parables, and other times He spoke plainly.

He invited all those to come to Him and lay their burdens down.

God's Words offer Salvation to any who will believe and turn to Him.

God always spoke the Truth in Love.

-And He lifted up His eyes to pray-

God, help me to speak to others...

    The same way You speak to me...

        Through Your Word, and in love...

            But that's just me!

"Within the Scripture there is a balm for every wound, a salve for every sore." Charles Spurgeon

The Feet of God

"A sitting at the feet of Jesus is of more worth than all the clatter of Martha's dishes."

Charles Spurgeon

The feet of God were pierced- Psalm 22:16

The feet of God were washed by a woman's tears and were wiped with her hairs- Luke 7:38

The feet of God were kissed, and anointed with oil- Luke 7:45,46

The feet of God are beautiful, for He preached the gospel of peace and brought glad tidings of good things- Romans 10:15

His enemies will be placed under His feet- 1 Corinthians 15:25

The feet of God are like fine brass- Revelation 2:18

The foot of God troddens down all mighty men- Lamentations 1:15

God will make His enemies His footstool- Psalm 110:1, Hebrews 10:13

The earth is God's footstool- Isaiah 66:1, Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:35, Acts 7:49

The feet of God walked upon the sea- Matthew 14:25

And at the feet of God, "...every knee shall bow to me, and ever tongue shall confess to God."

Romans 14:11

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Philippians 2:10,11

Crowns will be laid at the feet of God:

"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Revelations 4:10-11

"...How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:15b

"Lord...

    I want to have beautiful feet!

        But that's just me!"

Footprints in the Sand

Mary Stevenson

1939

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,

other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed

that during the low periods of my life,

when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,

I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,

"You promised me Lord, 

that if I followed You,

You would walk with me always.

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life

there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I needed you most, You have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,

"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,

is when I carried you."

The Hand and Finger of God

"The hand of the Lord may also be felt in another manner strengthening the soul and lifting the spirit upward towards eternal things." Charles Spurgeon

In God's hand are many wonders-Exodus 3:20

God's right hand is glorious in power-Exodus 15:6

God's hand protected Moses from His Glory-Exodus 33:22

There is no escaping the hand of God-Deuteronomy 32:39

There are great mercies in the hand of God-2 Samuel 24:14, 1 Chronicles 21:13

The hand of God is good-Ezra 8:18,22

God redeems by His great power and strong hand-Nehemiah 1:10

There are pleasures evermore at the right hand of God-Psalm 16:11

The right hand of God is full of righteousness-Psalm 48:10

God's hand is full of good-Psalm 104:28

The right hand of God is exalted and doeth valiantly-Psalm 118:16

God's right hand leads me and holds me-Psalm 139:10

The King's heart is in the hand of God-Proverbs-21:1

The righteous, the wise and their works are in the hand of God-Ecclesiastes 9:1

God's hand is stretched out still-Isaiah 5:25b, Isaiah 9:17b

I am strengthened, helped and upheld in God's hand-Isaiah 41:10

God's hand laid the foundation of the earth, and spans the heavens-Isaiah 48:13

The LORD'S hand is not shortened that it cannot save-Isaiah 59:1

We are the work of God's hand-Isaiah 64:8

Our breath is in God's hand-Daniel 5:23b

God's hand healed the leper-Matthew 8:3

We are kept in God's hand-John 10:28

Christ is at the right hand of God making intercession for us-Romans 8:34

In God's right hand is seven stars-Revelation 1:16

God holds a book in His right hand-Revelation 5:1, Revelation 10:2

God's hands were pierced- Psalm 22:16

God's hands formed the dry land- Psalm 95:5

The heavens are the work of God's hand- Psalm 102:25

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

Isaiah 49:16

God's hands were wounded by His friend-Zechariah 13:6

There is healing in the hands of God- Luke 4:40

God the Father placed all thing into the Hands of Jesus-John 13:3

God's hands took children up into His arms and blessed them-Mark 10:16

The magicians before Pharaoh recognized the finger of God- Exodus 8:19

God's testimony was written on tables of stone by the finger of God- Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 9:10

The finger of God casts out devils- Luke 11:20

Jesus rebuked accusers by writing on the ground with His finger- John 8:6

The works of the heavens, the moon and the stars are by the finger of God- Psalm 8:3

The finger of God wrote upon a wall- Daniel 5:5

His fingers healed the deaf and dumb man- Mark 7:33

God's hands are powerful, mighty, creative, strong...

    His hands rebuke and His hands heal...

        And His hand leads us, gently hold us and keeps us...

            What a wonderful God!

                But that's just me!

The Ears of God

"There is no fact which has been more fully demonstrated than this: that God hears prayers."

Charles Spurgeon

'He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?' Psalm 94:9a

The LORD hears our murmurings-Exodus 16:8

My cry enters His ears- 2 Samuel 22:7

His ears are open to my cry- Psalm 34:15b

God will NOT hear vanity- Job 35:13

The LORD hears my cry from his Holy Hill- Psalm 3:4

God hears my prayers in my distress-Psalm 4:1, Psalm 120:1

The LORD hears when I call unto Him- Psalm 4:3

The LORD hears the voice of my weeping- Psalm 6:8

'In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears." Psalm 16:6

The LORD hears me in the day of trouble- Psalm 20:1

He hears me from his Holy Heaven- Psalm 20:6

I shall call upon God, and the LORD shall save me- Psalm 55:16

He will hear me in the morning, evening and at noon- Psalm 55:17 

He hears me when I seek him- Psalm 34:4

He hears our prayers- Psalm 65:2

He will NOT hear me when I regard iniquity in my heart- Psalm 66:18

The LORD hears the poor- Psalm 69:33

He will hear me speedily when my spirit faileth- Psalm 143:7

When I am poor and needy He will hear me and not forsake me- Isaiah 41:17b

He hears us in an acceptable time, in a day of salvation- Isaiah 49:8, 2 Corinthians 6:2

He hears the prayers of the righteous- Proverbs 15:29b

"Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am." Isaiah 58:9a

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Jeremiah 33:3

God hears the prayers of a contrite heart- Daniel 10:12

God can hear prayers from the belly of a whale- Jonah 2:1

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear." Isaiah 59:1

Before I call upon the LORD and while I am still speaking, God will hear- Isaiah 65:24

God always hears- John 11:42

God hears the oppressed- James 5:4

His ears are open to our prayers- 1 Peter 3:12

We know that he hears us- 1 John 5:15

God hears us because we matter to Him...

    He loves us, cares for us...

        He is always ready to listen..

            But that's just me!