His Commands Are Not Burdensome

"This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" ( John 5:2-4 NIV).

As I prepare to go out of town for a few days, I have felt rather burdened--by work, by preparations for my family who I am leaving behind, by friendships I have neglected and friends I will have to put off for another week. By life! I'm not bitter . . . it's more a wistfulness, a realization that I have limited time and energy and ability . . . and yes, even limited capacity to pray and think and discern God's will.

This morning I "took a breath" and sat quietly in prayer, hoping to see a way to handle all that needs to be done, all I want to get done and maintain some small shred of sanity!

I was given the gift of an answer from a God who is so gracious to His children--all of His children. He is a God who loves us too much to leave us stranded and alone and left to our own resources. I am humbled and awed at His mercy, generosity and grace.

God's ultimate gift in the form of Jesus bids us, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV).

Blessings on your journey,

Mary

Burdened? Lay it Down

This morning I installed the code for yet another prayer button Edie at Rich Gifts designed for a beautiful sister in Christ who is in the spiritual battle of her life--for her life. I felt weighed down and overwhelmed--not by the needs of my friend. Not by the effort to rally prayer warriors on my friend's behalf. I felt burdened as if I were personally responsible for the outcome of the prayers. I all too often fall into the trap of praying as if I were the one responsible for the result!

Yes, I felt burdened. Not "put upon" or inconvenienced. Burdened. You see, I spent several minutes in prayer this morning about some things in my life. Then I began to think of all the individuals I know and their need for prayer - some about huge, very specific matters of physical survival; others who must make decisions about their future or their children's future that will be life-changing. Some of them struggle with physical or emotional or spiritual issues. Some just need to feel blanketed in prayer to make it through each day.

All of us need prayer. All day. Every day. As one of those "I can do it" and "I'll take care of that" people, I tend to take on each burden of which I am made aware and carry it with me . . . until the burden becomes so large that I almost collapse under the weight of it.

That's because my burden is only to pray! Yes only. I am responsible to pray. God is in charge of the outcome! Let go, Mary. Let God. Pray in the name of Jesus for God's will -- not mine. Not even the will of those for whom we pray. No . . . we pray in the name of Jesus for the will of God to be established on His earth--in His world.

We are His beloved. Jesus already carried our burdens with him on the road to Golgotha. He hung upon the Cross so that we would know once and for all time that we are not alone, that we can be hopeful, that we are saved!

I believe in the power of prayer! I truly do. Having said that, I also know my own nature. I prayed this morning, both collectively and by name, for all those on my prayer list and for the prayer needs of others I may not be aware of.

Now I have laid that burden at the foot of the Cross. That is how I can best serve those in need of prayer -- pray. Then let go; let God.

~~~~~~~~~~

"When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel—each one aware of the afflictions of his own heart, and spreading out his hands toward this temple- ³⁹ then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of all men)"(1 Kings 8:37-39 NIV)

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you" (Jeremiah 29:12 NIV)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12 NIV).

*(Photographer: Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro, from: Hill of Crosses)

Blessings on your journey,"
Mary

Thanks for Listening, God!

"He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them" (Psalm 145:19 NIV).

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14 NIV).

I think it was past time to post something a bit less "whiny" here! Last week was one of those weeks for me! You know . . . I took on the weight of the world and didn't let go! I clung tightly to the illusion I fall into believing sometimes: that I'm in "this" by myself! I don't know why I do it, but I do. I am ever grateful -- beyond expression -- that God allows me to vent, whine, etc., and then welcomes me back into His loving arms when I'm 'over myself.'

The previous post may have been a little more honesty than you wanted me to share! I apologize if that is the case. However, it is a side of me that springs up sometimes and I really do believe that God wants us to be completely authentic--in our wisdom and strength as well as in our struggles and challenges. I've known people who never wanted to talk about what was good and right in their lives--but I've also met some who would never open up enough to share what wasn't going so well too.

Anyway, I think I'm over my little tantrum. I finished typing my God's Wonder Woman column that will be posted at Take Root and Write on Wednesday, July 1. That helped me get back on track. The theme this time is about rearranging our "to do" list! Pretty appropriate and timely for me. I hope it will be for others as well.

I would say I am ashamed of myself for being negative, but I guess I'm really not. Everything in my life is not perfect. God knows that. But I don't like to complain about my own circumstances. I am blessed beyond anything I ever dreamed. I am humbled and grateful by the ways God is opening up my life to Him and to His world.

I think the "woes of this world" felt especially burdensome to me lately because the vision God has given me for my life is HUGE!! And I get tired--a lot! I forgot to trust in God's wisdom. I wasn't willing to lean on His strength. I couldn't make myself rest in His power. I spent much of last night giving it all to God and this morning I'm committed to allowing Him to make the way He sees for my future--and my present.

How about you? Are you feeling burdened lately? So much is going on in the world and it's easy to internalize it all. If I don't catch myself right away, I can spiral into the mix of it all and lose my footing. That's when I find I need to go to scripture. The words there are timeless and divinely-inspired. God's word is what we need to drown out the noise of what's going on in the world.

"I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King." This is what the LORD says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:" (Isaiah 43:15-17 NIV)

"This is what the LORD says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen" (Isaiah 44:2 NIV).

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4 NIV)

I pray you hear God's word above all else and that you trust Him, lean on Him and rest in Him as you go through your day today.