picturesfromheaven

Picture…I saw a businesswoman in a power suit at her desk writing down appointments in her daily planner, and things that needed to be done on her “To Do List” lying next to it. Her brow was furrowed, and there were a few unladylike drops of sweat beginning to bead on her forehead. It was obvious that she was working very hard. There were notations everywhere; actually it was quite a mess. Suddenly, a breeze came up and flipped the page. Rather than getting frustrated, the woman just started writing on the next page. Before the businesswoman could complete the notation, another breeze flipped the page and the pages started flipping pages faster and faster. The woman tried to stop the pages from turning over by holding down them down first with her hand and then her forearm. But then the wind picked up and made the pages turn so fast that they were just a blur. I totally sympathized with the woman as I watched the picture unfold before me. I thought, “This is just like my life. I can’t keep up. I can’t keep it together.”

Hear…I heard the Lord say, “Its more than just you; many people are struggling to make their lives work. They are trying to make sense of everything that is going on in their lives so that they can organize it and feel like they have some kind of control in it all. It’s obvious to them that it’s not working, but what is not apparent is the cause. They have no idea that I am the one blowing through their lives with such force that it is impossible to control. They have been blaming the enemy or thinking that it is just life in the 21st Century. They are totally unaware that much of what is going on in their lives is because I want them to take their hands off their schedule and everything that they are trying to accomplish. I want sole authority. I want governing control. I want to do the work myself.

Considering: I don’t think that the Lord is advocating laziness. Nor does he want you to ignore the problem, stick your head in the sand like an ostrich and hope it all goes away. That’s denial, and according to Proverbs, God’s not real keen on that. But God does want you to put the same intensity and effort that you have been putting into getting your life right, into seeking his face. God doesn’t have a problem with your effort; just it’s direction. You try so hard to control life when you should be surrendering it all to God. Why do you keep trying to get it all done, and done right when you know that it is impossible? Give God your calendar and checkbook; allow Him to take care of everything. But don’t surrender them just for His organizing abilities. Give them to God so that you can shift your attention to his face. Pursue God with every thing you are; body, soul and spirit. The side benefit of such a lifestyle is that it does allow God to take care of all of your stuff for you. If you focus on Him, He will manage your relationships, finances, ministry opportunities, or whatever projects you have going on in your life right now. But the real benefit is an intimate relationship the God of the universe, creator of all that was, is and is to come, your dearest friend. Nothing can beat that. Surrender the stuff that is so draining and impossible to control anyways, so that you have the mental and physical energy for a passionate pursuit of God.

Pray: “Lord, you and I both know that the harder I try, the ‘behinder’ I get. But it is obvious from my lifestyle that I forget that from time to time. I surrender it all to you, and then gradually, I take it back on my shoulders one piece at a time until everything is out of control again. So again, I give you my planner, my to-do-list, my outlook calendar and all thing things I use to try and organize my life, and get it all done. You really don’t want all of this stuff that I do for you as much as you want me. My pursuit of your face must come first and foremost. Because if it doesn’t’, I end up fitting it in odd moments while I drive or do laundry. I am really sorry that I’ve allowed that to happen again in my life. I love you. I really do. I love you more that I love anything in my life, including my life. Help me to show that by my life. In Jesus name, Amen.”