Woke up one morning with someone on my mind. I was wondering how they were doing, hoping they were okay. Got out of bed, went to my computer, checked my email and sent them a note. Looked at a few pieces of yesterday’s mail that was on my desk, then picked up my Bible to read and reflect. Something came against me. It said, “You rose up early in the morning, then put the cares of this world first.” Softly said a prayer asking Jesus to put Satan behind Him as He did for Peter. When the love of another is on your mind it is not a worldly care. But don’t reach out for junk mail or an old bill to distract you. Reach out to God and pray for the person on your mind.
When we have problems too many times we busy ourselves with distractions while we hope for a solution. When what we should do is turn to the true Hope in prayer, our Father in Heaven. There are cares in this world and to deny them is not being a good steward. The parable said that some seeds fell where weeds grew and were choked out and these were the one that allowed the cares of the world to turn them from God. That parable is used a lot to talk about being tempted by ungodly things. But the cares of the world may be a place to live or something to eat, if you do not have these things. The cares of the world may be things we need to survive. They could be bills that we do have to pay. The answer is where do we turn for help and guidance.
Our Father in Heaven wants us to have life abundantly. That does not necessarily mean an abundance of fleshly distractions. God sent Jesus to bring us back into a relationship with Himself. Jesus said He came to give us life and life more abundantly. So wouldn’t it stand to reason that a relationship with God is a more abundant life? The relationship with God starts with accepting that Jesus, the Son of God, lived and died and rose so that our sins would be washed clean. Once we are washed clean, we can stand before God without an accuser or an arbitrator. Because of who God is and to show honor we sometimes choose to kneel before Him in prayer, but we can stand before Him in His presents – that is the gift of Jesus Christ.
The fact that there are cares in your life is not the issue. In this world there will be trials and persecution. How we choose to handle them is the issue. When the weeds come, do we try to pull them by ourselves? Do we get in agreement with the care of the world instead of getting with God for a resolution? How do we get in agreement with the cares of the world? Have you ever done something dishonest to resolve a monetary worry? Have you ever lied to get out of a difficult situation? Do you spend more time mulling over a debt or conflict than it actually takes to resolve? Those are some ways that we get in agreement with the cares of the world. Have you ever got in prayer with God and put the issue in His hands?
There are issues that come up that are small and we know we can handle and there are issues that overwhelm us. We should take them all to God in prayer. Maybe not a get down on our knees and lament over the issues, but as part of an on going communication with God – the way you might call a friend or relative for advice. Then listen. They way we handle the small stuff may be training for handling the big stuff that overwhelms us. Handling the small stuff improperly may create an overwhelming issue. Let’s have a more abundant life. Let’s have a relationship with God, one where we have open communication with God. Take it to God in prayer.