What You Say - a favorite

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Isaiah 40:28-29 NASB

Have you ever had those days that feel like all you do is go from one fire to the next without any lasting results? I've had a month of them. It's like trying to run a marathon with one foot nailed to the floor. You're giving it all you've got, but you're not getting anywhere. 

I've been SO much more busy that at first, I didn't recognize what was going on. Then through the hustle and bustle, I heard Him whisper, "Come away. Come spend time with Me. Make more time for Me - I will help you." In our finite minds, that doesn't make sense. What do you say to that? More time spent on something means less time for everything else when it can feel like we don't have enough time as it is to get everything done in a day. 

However, we're talking about the Creator of the universe. The God of multiplying, not dividing. The One Who always gives more! I was reminded of that when I read Proverbs 21:21, He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor. We pursue righteousness and loyalty and He gives us LIFE. God gives so much more than we could think or ask. So what do you say to a God like that?

You say, "Yes, Lord."

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for always loving us. Thank You for always having the right answer and providing it for us. Thank You for knowing what we have need of before we even ask and for being patient and kind enough to allow us to come into Your presence where all our needs are met. Father, let our heart's desire be always toward You. We want to know You more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

More or More Than Enough

Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together.
Psalm 4:6-8 The Message

The world is motivated by more. We want the biggest. We want the best. We want the most and we want it for less. And once we get it - are we then content? Does it satisfy? How many people do you know who have to have one more thing? One more sale. One more look. One more purchase.

The Truth is - apart from God - there isn't enough. There isn't enough of anything to satisfy the deepest longing of our souls. There aren't enough people.  There isn't enough love. There isn't enough food. There isn't enough shelter. There isn't enough fun.

But God is more than enough. He satiates and satisfies and He's eternal. Which will you choose? More or more than enough?

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for being more than enough. Thank You for giving of Yourself to us and for loving us first. Thank You, Father, that at day's end, we're ready for sound sleep, for You, God, have put our lives back together. Help us to know the Truth of You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Less is More

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.

John 3:30-31 NLT

One of the buzz phrases of the 21st century is "Less is More." However, it's not a new idea. According to The Phrase Finder,¹  the first time the phrase was found in print was 1855, in a poem by Robert Browning titled, Andrea del Sarto. The phrase was later personified by the works and style of Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, an architect and designer born in the late 19th century, whose main focus was simplistic style.

Isn't it strange how people will embrace the idea of 'Less is More' as it relates to things but heartily reject it when it comes to self? And yet Christ did exactly that. 

Referring to Jesus, Philippians 2:6-8 NLT reads, Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 

And yet there is no other name by which man can be saved. It is at the Name of Jesus that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord to the glory of God, the Father. He died a criminal's death. It was a priceLESS gift He gave, the sinLESS, spotLESS Lamb of God.

He became less so that we could be more than we could ever imagine. 

Prayer: 

Father,

         Help us to embrace Your Truth and direction to not be caught up in the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things that enter in and choke Your Word, so that it becomes unfruitful.² Lord, we truly want to live out that You become greater and greater, and we become less and less. Help us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

¹http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/226400

² Mark 4:18-20 NKJV