Sorry I’m running way behind on my blog to you this week. I have been so busy! The truth is I’ve just been too… Ok, there! That’s it. That little three letter word (too) that I find coming out of my mouth way too often these days. This past week I was driving and thinking to myself that I was TOO busy to do what I knew the Lord had asked me to do. In my spirit man I clearly heard Him say. Too what? That’s when it hit me how that little word “too” had become a habit in my speech and thoughts. (Isn’t it funny how these short little words trip us up so much as Christians? ) The Lord was challenging me to look behind the word TOO. I truly felt I was too busy. But why? The true reason was for that I felt I was too tired to perform the task. But it’s not just business or fatigue that holds us back from God inspired actions. More often it’s worry, hunger, anger or frustration. Could it also be that sometimes we are even just TOO cheep to give of our money or time to help someone else? Ouch I know that hurts. It hurt me when I heard the Lord clearly say it to me.
The key here I’ve learned is not to beat ourselves up. When you think about it the word “too” is a negative word. When we use the word aren’t we really saying that we feel too overwhelmed, beaten down, crushed, or devastated to take the action requested? Since “too “ is a negative word I like to think instead of another three letter word, the word “all”. I love the verse in 2 Corinthians 9:8 which says in the NIV: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need you will abound in every good work. “ Wow! That takes away all my excuses. But it gives me all of His resources to accomplish whatever He has asked me to do. He’s bee slowly teaching me how to bit my tongue now and not let the word “too” slip across my lips. Instead I can throw my hands up to heaven and say, “ Thanks be to God! He gives me the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:57 – NIV)
Another set of verses that has helped me a great deal with my TOO problem is Hebrews 13:20 and 21.
“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
As I exchange my “too” for His “all” the pressure dissolves. The New Living Translation of 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 put it this way, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong!”
Sometimes when life is in chaos all around me I like to remember that Christ is not only the Creator of the world but also it’s Sustainer! That means that no matter how crazy this old world gets He is the one that is holding it all together. It’s like when you have an unbalanced load of clothes in your washing machine it begins to shake and make noise. Our world is certainly out of balance right now so we shouldn’t be surprised at the chaos around us. That’s why we should echo Paul’s prayer in Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” Early in Romans 8:37 Paul tells us that “No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
So this coming week I challenge you as the Lord challenged me to replace my “too” with His “all!” Perhaps no group of people, are more successful at doing this than our missionaries. Please pray for my friend Jerod Smith and his family as they begin their new lives as Missionaries to Rwanda today. If you have a few minutes and would like to learn more about their ministry please go to ..
http://www.jerodsmith.com
