I was needed at actually 3 places at once. The church, my home, and the situation I got the message about.......and I got to thinking about it all at 0123 am on Friday morning. I woke from a dead sleep rehashing the day's events and the meetings and messages I received. They only thing I could do at 0123 am is pray.
I shared with a friend today....who is helping hold my prayer life in better accountability....what had happened when I got up. I was asked if I prayed and I said "yes" and then I was asked if I asked for forgiveness. I said "of course" because that's what we always should do first......we always need to be clean to pray to our God. Sin in our heart keeps our God from working in our life they way he needs to. Sin always holds us back.
Anyway......what happens when we are needed at multiple places at once? How do we decide what or who is most important? Well.....that's a good question and one I don't know how to answer right away. I feel it depends on the situation. Life or death situations require no thought to tend to.....but other things do. We grow and learn how to adjust to life with each decision we have to make. Some are hard.....some not. I am finding we should ask our God what His plan is and how can I best be used in that situation to glorify Him.
I ask questions and advice to trusted people in my life. Getting other Christian input on how to deal with things is a way for us to hold each other accountable. It's a way for us to sharpen each other and help us stay on track with out God. I am finding I want to "fix" situations I come in contact with. I want to make it all better for everyone in my life. I want to take their pain away and help them understand God has plans are better than ours. I suppose there isn't anything wrong with having a desire to help people......but fixing it all for them?
What a friend helped me realize today is that I can't fix anything or anyone......and I know this.....only pray and ask God to do what He needs to. His plans are perfect and that includes imperfect people and situations. Fixing it for everyone would be real nice.....but that's not what we as humans have the ability to always do. Our life Ana how we live is ultimately up to our God who knows us and knows what's best for us. I only pray for guidance to make good choices that glorify And build the kingdom.
<3
ReplyDelete<3
ReplyDeleteWe all get into these situations. They are not fun and they certainly have tested my patience. At my old position i would have several people at time coming to me with questions, plus dealing with personnel issues, attorneys and my own work. Then of course there were things at home that needed tending to as well. Even though i was not as close to God as i should have been back then, he got me through it.
ReplyDeleteAs for praying, I watched a sermon and it was on praying. One of the things the preacher said was. " We all pray for help or guidance, but how many times do we just sit and be quiet after we pray. How often do we wait to see if God will tell what he wants us to do. " He said, we usually pray and then say amen and go about our day. He suggested two things. First: before we pray just clear our mind and see if God will guide us in prayer. Second: wait quietly for a while after we pray. I like them both. So, i have been TRYING to do both. I also say the Lord's prayer several times a day.
There is one other thing that helps put me back in check. That is thinking about others that need more help than i do. An example is; this is going to be a bad week for me. Things i don't really want to do at work and lots of days with little to no sleep. However: Karen knows a lady that had a problem during her pregnancy and they had to take the baby early to save both of them from dying. The baby ( Lilly ) only weighs one lbs. 4 ounces. She has two brain bleeds and last we heard was barely holding on to life. Kind of makes my little to no sleep and me not really wanting to do things at work seem petty. It makes me ashamed of myself worrying about those dumb things, when i should be praying for people worse off than me. {racers for Lilly would be greatly appreciated.
The last line should say Prayers for Lilly would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSince I've gotten older I really love the quiet.....and I like how you said to be still in silence with God. That is a good way to discern what he's telling us.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when things are heavy on your heart? And no matter how you try.....you can't shake it? Like it's a longing that won't go away? My heart is heavy for things and people......and at times I don't know what to do with it all. I pray and ask God to guide and lead me. I ask for direction and ways to make Him glorified.
Lately I have been real tired myself......my sleep hasn't been the best and I feel it during the day.....especially the long ones. I guess I need to realize that these tiring days are still part of the plan. And it makes me appreciate my time off so much more.
Prayers for little Lilly and her family.....and I don't think you're doing anything wrong in praying for your own challenges. God wants us to talk to him about all aspect of our life. And maybe sometimes he wants us to put things in perspective. So keep doing what you are doing. :)
I have had a heavy heart many times. I wish i surefire cure for you but i don't. I think it is all part of God's plan. We certainly don't understand why things happen or why we feel like we do at times. However, he does get us through them. I am sure Job had a heavy heart when he was going through his ordeal with the devil, but God got him through and made him better in the end. Hopefully you do not go through what Job did, but either way keep praying, keep the faith, keep loving God and he will not let you down.
ReplyDeleteAmen!! Trust no matter what....all I do.
ReplyDelete