LifeLink Devotions for Friday, April 19, 2024

Retirement has become very busy. Of course, it was my choice to come out of retirement and serve the Lord as Pastor of a wonderful group of people in a small town nearby. The activity of church life and personal life has captured a huge chunk of my time and is stretching my physical strength. I usually start to fall asleep in my recliner by 8:30 every night.

This morning the Lord helped me to understand my specific need right now by leading me to several verses that helped me re-focus my heart and mind on His purpose for my life and how to handle all the activity that surrounds me.

Psalm 34:18 — “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.“

Psalm 46:1 — “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.“

James 4:8 — “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13 — “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Psalm 145:18 – “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

I have a tendency to do things in my own strength.  I tend to work for Him rather than rest in Him. When I let that happen consistently, I begin to see people as “pains” rather than “partners.” I begin to focus on the external negatives of their behavior rather than the humble condition of their heart. I form opinions about their motives. I begin to blame myself for not having more energy or more time to do what they want. I begin to believe the lie of the Enemy that I am no longer spiritual enough because I don’t do everything they need.

Buit when I fall into the arms of Jesus and rest, He assures me that I am right where He needs me to be so that His grace can take over. He assures me that I am just one small piece of His body the church and that not everyone is called to be passionate about the same thing, except to love Him and love others. In His presence I discover when I am not focused on love, but on labor, and He assures me that He wasn’t. He loves me. He will use me if I love Him. That’s all I need to know.

Jesus spoke to me through the words of St. Francis de Salles that were quoted in a devotional I read today:

“Take courage. Often turn to the Lord, who is watching you, poor frail little being as you are, amid your labors and distractions. He enables you to bear your troubles patiently and gently, for love of Him who only allows you to be tried for your own good. Raise your heart continually to God, seek His aid, and let the foundation stone of your consolation be your happiness in being His. All trouble and annoyances will be comparatively unimportant while you know that you have such a Friend, such a Stay, such a Refuge.”

Pastor John