WATCHWORD:
We have renounced the hidden things of shame. 2 Corinthians 4:2
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
Meditation:
Yikes!
Have you ever taken an honest and deep look into the dark reaches of your soul? All those hidden things that your sense of honor or pride or shame, you felt you just couldn’t, wouldn’t reveal? Yes, yikes, is a good way to put it. We want to keep those things all tucked away inside, so there’s no possibility that someone may see, may know that about us. The hidden things of shame.
Then there is this loved one in your life that you feel estranged from. Something happened years ago that still plagues that relationship. There are other topics that you tiptoe around when you are with certain people because you know that they will have a negative response, and we avoid that. Is that topic related in any way to your faith in God? Maybe you tried to explain to that person what a relationship with God would mean to their quality of life, and they simply turned you off.
I’ve read Oswald Chambers’ book My Utmost for Hs Highest almost daily, for years, and the content of those essays touches my heart, often in sensitive ways. But I have to wonder, as I begin my day, whether I am prepared to give God my utmost, all that I am, to him, his Highest? Can I truly walk the way that our Lord lays out for me? Can I truly give my best for his glory?
That may have been a struggle for his disciples. The result of Jesus teaching is: “many of his disciples turned back and no longer went with him.” They could not understand or accept his teachings, a decision- moment of sorrow for Him and for many of the disciples. They simply could not carry on.
He turns to the twelve and asks: “Do you also wish to go away?” No sentimentality. It is stay or go. The choice is yours. You are free. Peter answers; “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter thought he was speaking for all the disciples, but some turned back.
We may not want to take that deep, searching look into those dark places, but we should. Shining the light of honesty into our dark places, the source of our sadness, our stresses, moves us closer to our Lord. Getting rid of those hidden things makes room for peace to settle in. Frees us to give our utmost to our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Halloween Is’a Comin’:
When the night is dark and scary,
and the moon is full and creatures are a flying and the wind goes Whoooooooooo,
you better mind your parents and your teachers fond and dear,
and cherish them that loves ya, and dry the orphans tears
and help the poor and needy ones that cluster all about,
or the goblins will get ya if ya don’t watch out!!!
Closing Prayer:
Lord, I need You. Please help me sift through the things in my heart, my mind, and even the things on my calendar. Thank you for being the source of all the strength I ever need. Lead me with Your Spirit today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
