Ever feel off kilter because things are out of order?
That’s how my dad feels when I try to pick up the check at a restaurant.
He flips. In his world, dad’s take care of their kids, not the other way around.
It’s how my mom feels when she’s sick and I take care of her.
She fumes. In her world, mom’s take care of children, not the other way around.
Here’s a secret too few people know:
The world is out of kilter for too many of us because we keep trying to take care of God.
Here’s the proper order of the world according to God:
“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
and have carried since you were born.
all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
and have carried since you were born.
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46 3-4 NIV
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46 3-4 NIV
That’s right, God takes care of us, not the other way around.
Does that sound like a new idea?
Idols must be carried and tended and managed.
If you’ve made your career an idol, you’re busy taking care of it.
If you’ve made your ambitions your idol, you’re busy tending them.
If you’ve made perfection your idol, you’re killing yourself trying to attain it.
If you’ve made religion your idol, it may feel as though Jesus is just another relationship you’ve got to manage and you’re not keeping up at all.
It’s time to put your world back into proper order.
Here’s what I want you to do – yes, you.
Pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage.
Find a comfortable place to sit
And then, just sit there with God and enjoy your drink.
Maybe find a view or a fireplace or a painting.
Don’t pray. Don’t study. Don’t intercede.
Just be quiet. Sip your beverage. Enjoy the view with God.
Let Him take care of you.
Breathe in His presence, His strength, His nurturing love for you.
God doesn’t ever need you to pick up the check.
He doesn’t get sick or tired or needy.
He has endless resources and He’s available – that’s what this season is all about.
Emmanuel – God with us.
He is with you.
He wants to take care of you, to carry you, to sustain you.
Go ahead. Sit back and let Him put your world back in order.
Be still.
Be with Him.
Be loved.
Look it up. It’s Biblical, baby. He takes care of us.
Breathe it in.
You’re loved.
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Oh my! What a beautiful post to end my night with. A pastor friend of mine told me this very same thing some years back. Thank you, Lori, for this precious reminder tonight.
Amen, sister. I made myself (mostly!) relax tonight instead of doing a bunch of stuff. Turned on Christmas music in my earbuds and just quit obsessing over everything!
Love, love, love the Bev Shea song!
Sitting with my latte, enjoying the sunrise, Christmas lights and LORD! (Well, that should be past tense–now I’m enjoying you) Merry Christmas, Lori. Lovely post
The Lord has been bringing this Isaiah passage to me lately. Not sure if it has anything to do with my gray hair and number of trips around the sun. Whatever His reasons are, I’m relaxin’ . Thanks for the reminder.
As an old Swamp Yankee, when I’m not busy doing three things at once, I feel like I’m lazy and useless. You have reminded me that “Mary chose the better part.” Just being is sometimes OK. Thank you. MOMMA