Who's shouldering your troubles?

Saturday, Daily Bible Blast will post the 3,000th devotion.

Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—

    he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. (Psalm 55:22a MSG)

Troubles, we all have them. Some of us seem to have more than others, but it is often just a cycle. When we are young, we need to learn that we can't control everything. Not everyone nor every situation can be cleared up easily. Our efforts at control, of circumstances and/or individuals, generally ends up in failure.

As part of the recovery world for several of year, learning that I can't control anyone but myself was the beginning of my life-change. For years I tried to control people around me; attempted to anticipate situations and take appropriate actions. That behavior labeled me as sick as the people I was trying to change.

Embracing this new concept by turning my worries, pain and fear over to the only one who was really in control, provided a peace I never before experienced. The weight of these issues was lifted from my shoulders and I could breathe. Control is a master at giving us a false sense of security. Control is a negative reaction and not a healthy response.

Now, I love the fact that any thing that worries me, or even breaks my heart, no longer has control over me. I can turn over everything to God. I can "Pile all my troubles on God's shoulders - and He'll carry the load, He'll help me out."  Now that's the way to live.

Psalm 55:22-23

I've Got a Secret...

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 

If any of you are old enough to remember the black and white television program call, "I've Got a Secret," travel with me a moment into yesteryear. Three guests enter stage left.  A quick scan of the panelists reveals they are wearing blindfolds.  The guests then each make a statement, the same statement, and the panel must determine which one is telling the truth; which one is revealing their 'secret'.

The panel of celebrities begins to question the secret holders, but only receive yes or no responses. It was interesting and fun.  The blindfolds kept the identity of the contestants hidden because the panel could recognize them if they were famous or infamous. Their secret was safe.

How do you feel about secrets?  We all have them, some little and some much too big to keep without affecting us, without make us sick. Do you draw comfort from the fact that God knows all secrets? Does that make you feel secure or afraid?

In recovery programs we are taught we are as sick as our biggest secret.  We are encouraged to find someone to talk with, to reveal our faults to and come clean and to step out of denial. Coming clean with our dirty little secrets will go a long way to healing our hearts.

It is good to remember that nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight, there is nothing we can admit or confess that He didn't already know...and He loved us anyway.  If there is shame in our life, it is of Satan not God.  The Holy Spirit will convict us to come clean, to give an account of our actions, but never will He cast shame.

Isn't it time to come out from behind those masks and reveal who we are?  Isn't it time to be real, not only with others, but especially with ourselves?  After all, God knows -- what else matters?

Hebrews 4:1-13

Who Lives?

Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV)
 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Our sins died with Jesus that day on the Cross. Our Christian walk was born the day we died to our old life; when we united our life with His.  In many respects we must die to our old life each day when the desires of the sinful nature try to ensnare us.

This can be compared to an addict who has been clean for months after going through a treatment program.  While they are no longer using, there is a daily battle that rages, an inner turmoil that tries to take over and cause relapse. The person who has claimed Christ as Savior is no longer living the former way of life, but is familiar with the daily battle with the world.

The addict's daily living is his focus, one day at a time his mantra.  Likewise, the Christian's daily walk is toward life and living it as Christ has taught.  The addict begins to turn her life around when she surrounds herself with people who care; people who can help her stay sober.  The Christian needs this same companionship, accountability and instruction.

The addict reads and studies the Big Book. He learns about sobriety and the value of staying clean by reading stories of others struggles and victories.  He avoids the old life and walks with new friends. The Christian read and study another Big Book - the Bible.  She learns of a better way to live and she adopts a new set of friends; ones who will walk alongside her, love her and encourage this new behavior.

When the addict uses both books, recovery takes on an entirely new meaning. We are all addicts of some type.  Our drug of choice may be drugs or alcohol, or it may be unhealthy relationships, or isolation or work or money or food or exercise or...  Fill in the blank.  Claiming Christ and becoming a new creation is daily work.  We all sin and fall short... But God's grace covers it all.

Galatians 6:1

The Christian 12-Step program, Celebrate Recovery, uses our scripture for today as the Biblical reference for Step 12. "Having had a spiritual experience as a result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs."

Biblical reference = Galatians 6:1
"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

Take a look at the words, restore him gently. There is a lot of grace in these three words. When I must have a difficult talk with someone, it is wise to ask God to give grace to my words. It is much more likely my conversation will be heard when said in a calm and loving voice; one that is full of grace and truth.

If there is a healthy dose of grace peppered within our confrontation our words will be swallowed more readily.  Do our words flow gently off our tongues so they can be heard easily and grasped willingly?  There have been many times in life when I have wished I could take back something I said.  I imagine all of us have these moments.

For me, that is what restoring someone gently is all about -- Speaking the truth with love and lots and lots of grace.  For someday each of us will be on the receiving end.

1 Corinthians 15:9-19

Have you ever met someone who said they want to start going to church but must get their life together first?  What they probably meant was they weren't ready to give up their old way of life, weren't ready to surrender to Jesus and the cross.  Isn't that were we all were at one time; isn't that where we all are at different points in our lives?  We need Jesus exactly where we are right now.  Paul wrote:

"For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." (1 Corinthians 15:9-10a) 

When I decide to join Weight Watches, I don't wait until I have lost 25# before going, just like the person who decides it is time for a recovery group doesn't wait until he has been sober for 6 months to attend that first meeting.  No, the time for support is while in the midst of our hurt and pain.  Jesus is calling us now, when we are at our worst, so He can make us whole.

When you invite that neighbor or co-worker to join you for Easter worship they and tell you they aren't ready; aren't good enough yet, remind them none of us are. "But by the grace of God I am what I am."

Read the scripture for today at Biblegateway by clicking here.

Called to Be Different -- 1 Peter 1:13-25

I have been part of a Christian 12-Step Recovery program for a number of years.  As I learned about recovery and the difference between secular and Christian recovery, I began to grow and to change.  I understand what it means to be changed, to be different than I was a year ago and I have learned that I have responsibilities I did not recognize before.

1 Peter 1:13 "Prepare your minds for action..."  A relationship with Jesus requires that I am prepared everyday to do the next right thing, to take it one day at a time and to let God be God. 

A few verses later: 1 Peter 1:17 "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear."  Those two words, reverent fear, struck me.  As one who used to live each day in fear--I had to pause and define referent fear.

The only fear to hang on to is reverent fear.  This fear equates to love and respect with wonder, awe and reverence.  We serve a mighty God who loves us equally and wants each and every one of us to be with Him in eternity.  We are called to live life as a saved sinner showered and washed clean by Jesus' blood and living in abounding grace.


To read the entire scripture text for today go to Biblegateway

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