This morning I read through Ecclesiastes. I'm not sure what I was looking for but it came to mind and I read it. While several things stood out to me, I guess I found what I was looking for in the last few verses of the book.
During his final thoughts, the king said this, Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey His commands, for this is the duty of every person. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT) I began to think about what that meant for me in my situation. As caregivers, it can feel like life played us a harsh hand. But, we are still in the game.
There's a lot on our plate from the time we wake up until the time we go to bed. Many times there's no sleep due to duties during the nighttime hours as well. I have felt bad because I couldn't be "as faithful" to the church as I was in days BC. (Before Caregiving) It's easy to feel pressured to measure up to what others think and often I feel like I don't do enough. Maybe that's why this scripture spoke to me this morning. My duty is simply to fear God and to serve Him no matter what type of hand life deals. Regardless of what's on my plate today - I need to do everything to His glory. Remember Colossians 3:17 tells us: no matter what you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus..(NLT)
Today, I can take the pressure off myself and I hope you can do the same. We don't have to measure up to any religious creed. We don't have to do anything but fear Him and serve Him no matter what our circumstances. I'll turn my thoughts today to simply pleasing Him. I can dedicate this day to Him and serve my loved one in a way that glorifies Him. I'll rest in the truth that it is enough and He is pleased. Will you join me?
I was thrust into caregiving when my son was in a tragic accident but soon found that there's a whole world of "us" out there! Many times we find ourselves alone. Even the church can disappear quickly and good friends distance themselves because our world has changed. But God does not change with circumstance. My faith is what has carried me through and these devotions will hopefully help us all make one more day - encouraged in Him.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Fingerprints on the Soul
As I was typing the closing to yesterday's devotion, I penned a phrase about how God leaves fingerprints on our souls. It literally we...
-
One thing I hear from caregivers a lot is that there is often not enough help. Recently, I requested a few hours of respite just because I ...
-
This morning, I was working on a couple of new devotionals that I hope to have ready to put in my bookstore soon. One of the things I was s...
-
During my personal devotions this morning, I found another gem. I call these "gems" because they are powerfully valuable. For so ...
No comments:
Post a Comment