Irony
This beautiful spring morning I lingered over my coffee while watching a tiny bunny eat my grass.........for 7.5 seconds. Then I switched on my trusty Palm Treo (I love my phone, but that's another post) and my heartbeat shot up when I saw today's to-do list. Bye bye, bunny.
Top of the list this week is the deadline for my contribution to our annual women's retreat. Thirty items later is the bottom of the list so I vaulted into action. In almost every room in my house is a copy of "My Utmost for His Highest" so in an effort to keep my head from exploding before 9:00 a.m., I picked it up to read. I think you'll appreciate the irony. Especially since the retreat I'm frantically working on is based on Matthew 11-"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden...."
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally "cast your burden," which He has given you, "on the Lord . . . ." If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, "What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!"
"Cast your burden on the Lord . . . ." You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. ". . . the government will be upon His shoulder" ( Isaiah 9:6 ). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
Top of the list this week is the deadline for my contribution to our annual women's retreat. Thirty items later is the bottom of the list so I vaulted into action. In almost every room in my house is a copy of "My Utmost for His Highest" so in an effort to keep my head from exploding before 9:00 a.m., I picked it up to read. I think you'll appreciate the irony. Especially since the retreat I'm frantically working on is based on Matthew 11-"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden...."
Cast your burden on the Lord . . . —Psalm 55:22
We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. We should never bear the burdens of sin or doubt, but there are some burdens placed on us by God which He does not intend to lift off. God wants us to roll them back on Him— to literally "cast your burden," which He has given you, "on the Lord . . . ." If we set out to serve God and do His work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.
Many servants set out to serve God with great courage and with the right motives. But with no intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, they are soon defeated. They do not know what to do with their burden, and it produces weariness in their lives. Others will see this and say, "What a sad end to something that had such a great beginning!"
"Cast your burden on the Lord . . . ." You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. ". . . the government will be upon His shoulder" ( Isaiah 9:6 ). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden.
Ahhh, that feels better.
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