I have been a slave to so many things throughout my life. Slave to perception...slave to comparison...slave to temptation...slave to jealousy....slave to my expectations and desire. All of this self imposed slavery has left me with very little margin for the pieces of my life that should get all of my attention. It has left very little room for what God is calling on me to do for His kingdom. It has left me chained to unrealistic goals and an unrealistic perception of how things should work. I think what this prayerful consideration has made me most aware of is that I have taken over my life and turned away from listening to His calling and only paid attention to my own. This has further entrenched me in this slavery.
So this is my year of FREEDOM. Freedom from all of these binding ties. Ties that keep my hands full when my hands should be empty and outstretched to what He has to fill them...ONLY WHAT HE HAS....not what I think should be filling the spaces. This morning my devotional verse was Matthew 12:9-14.
"Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Lord there are so many pieces to pull from this part of your word. The first truth being that you are always present to protect and restore. Just like the shepherd to the sheep you save us continually. Lord of all of your blessings I am so completely thankful for that fact. This sinner needs saving------always. The other truth is that all we have to do is stretch out our hands----you are waiting----waiting for our willingness to turn from the things that are not of You and focus our sights on You and Your plan. Lord I pray for the clarity in my vision only You can provide. Thank you Lord for Your patience and love. The third truth is that the devil will always be plotting our destruction. He also patiently waits and circles like a lion to its prey----waiting to attack the vulnerable spaces in our lives. Lord I pray for the strength only you can provide to resist the constant temptation of this world and the devil. Lord I pray for a deep abiding fire for you and your calling----the FREEDOM only You can provide!!
Amen!!
