Give It Up

Have you ever been sitting in church, at a retreat, or even in a small group and someone said that you should give your burdens up to God? I couldn't tell you how many times I have heard that in my life. And I couldn't tell you how many times I've wanted to do this very thing. But I always walked through that door wondering to myself how in the world am I supposed to do that.

I would walk out confused but never willing to express that confusion. I was the good little church goer. The one that you went to for answers, not the one with questions. But there I was with a really big question, how do I cast my burdens on God and trust in Him and His word?

Today He decided to finally give me that answer. It was an answer that was always there but today driving down the road He lifted that haze of confusion. It went something to the effect of...

"Are you worrying about money, give more of it to me. Are you worrying about not having enough time in a day to get things done, spend more time in My presence. Are you worrying about study habits and being prepared for work and school, spend more time studying my Word."

That's it in a nutshell. Whatever is causing me to worry I just take that cause and give more of it to God. If you're worried about not having enough money, give more of it to God. If you're worried about not having enough time, give more of it to God.

He still expects sacrifice even today. He still wants your, and my, first fruits. He still wants to be first in our lives just like he did in the old testament.

And still I struggle.

It's an easy concept to talk about, but an extremely difficult one to put into practice.

...

Can You See Me?

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

~1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Every morning I grab my phone and read my daily Bible passage. Today it was 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. 

With my little app I have the option of sharing my daily reading with all of my internet friends in my social network of cyberbuddies.  And every morning I do just that. I read it, then I share it. Never a second thought given...until this morning.

I must confess that I actually hesitated with this passage. I actually entertained the idea of not sharing this passage. I was afraid it would be seen and I would be thought of as an extremist, close-minded Christian.

I am ashamed that I was ashamed.

In this passage Paul is not dwelling on the negative. But I did...

If you read on to verse 11 Paul says that "such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." God wants us to know that we were all this way until we trusted in Him and allowed God to cleanse.

I was afraid this message would not be clear to some...and I hesitated. Then God stepped in and showed me that His message is one of hope. It's a message that all need to hear. To all who read this I want you to know that I am a Christian and I believe in the message of hope that God is telling all of us here. 

Can you see me now? I was hiding before...but no longer. I am not ashamed of the message that I believe in nor of the God that saved me.

God, thank you for your grace and your sanctification. I am a sinner and I have been ashamed. But you have justified me in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God. Thank you.