January 14, 2011, "Thorns"
Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by: Teresa Criswell
"Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
~ Matthew 13:22-23
Thorns?! Ouch! Really Lord?
The rushing of life,
the rushing of time,
the rushing of growing up,
the rushing of getting out of the house,
the rushing of reading the word of God,
the rushing of closing the deal,
the rushing of so-called prayer,
the rushing of so-called praise and worship,
the rushing of technology...
We live a life as though the rushing of time revolves around us...
to do lists that grow...one 'box' gets crossed off and we add a few more.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! BREATHE! Take a breath! STOP! What are we doing?
Distractions allowed to master our lives, instead of us mastering the distractions by the power of God that is on the inside of us, IF we have accepted Jesus Christ as not only our Savior but also our Lord.
With this 'rushing' scenario of life, I was reminded of the parable of the word that Jesus spoke of. The word that comes into our life in the midst of the thorns that surround us. The thorns representing the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches.
The cares of this world does not represent our caring for the world...it is how we allow the world to influence our cares. We not only have allowed the world to influence this, but then we actually attempt to carry these burdensome cares. However, aren't we suppose to do something with the cares? Yes! We are to cast those cares upon Jesus. But, why? Because He cares for us. He knows what those cares will do to us if we don't cast them upon Him...it will destroy us. He knows that the cares that we carry are a tool from Satan that will do what he does best...and that is destroy us. In addition to the cares, it isn't the riches that are decetiful, the deceitfulness is believing that the riches will take care of it all.
How do we cast our cares upon the Lord? We know what we are suppose to do, but HOW? For me, I am a very visual person. In this, I literally must fall to my knees and imagine Jesus seated on the throne. As I imagine such a beautiful scene, I lay prostrate with my arms extended as though every care and burden I have has been laid at His feet. Humbled before His majesty, He then gives me the wisdom to know how to utilize the tools that I must use to be a wife, mom, writer, volunteer, friend, daughter, sister, etc. The cares don't go away; however, they are now placed upon the One who cares and is able to show me how to execute with wisdom how to live in the midst of the cares. The Holy Breath of God, the Holy Spirit show me not to allow the 'cares' to rule me, but allowing the One who Cares for me to rule and reign over me with His overwhelming Love.
I am reminded that my heart need not remain in the midst of the thorns, but my heart can be of good ground who hears the word and understands it, bearing fruit in ways I never imagined.
Lord, thank You for being my Refuge and Help from the cares of this world. The rushing tides of life that attempt to hurry me through, attempting to overtake me and drown me in hopelessness. Thank You Lord that I get to have a relationship with You, Almighty God, the most Famous and Glorious One! Thank You for being our EVERYTHING, not just a supplement to when I need you...but You are my EVERYTHING...I not only need You, but I must desire and want You, humbled by Your Majesty! I love You Lord! Thank you for Your Triumphant Victorious Reminder of what I can possess in You! Hallelujah! In Jesus Awesome, Most Powerful, Majestic, Holy Name. Amen!
Scripture References:
Matthew 13: 22-23
I Peter 5:6-7
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by: Teresa Criswell
"Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
~ Matthew 13:22-23
Thorns?! Ouch! Really Lord?
The rushing of life,
the rushing of time,
the rushing of growing up,
the rushing of getting out of the house,
the rushing of reading the word of God,
the rushing of closing the deal,
the rushing of so-called prayer,
the rushing of so-called praise and worship,
the rushing of technology...
We live a life as though the rushing of time revolves around us...
to do lists that grow...one 'box' gets crossed off and we add a few more.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! BREATHE! Take a breath! STOP! What are we doing?
Distractions allowed to master our lives, instead of us mastering the distractions by the power of God that is on the inside of us, IF we have accepted Jesus Christ as not only our Savior but also our Lord.
With this 'rushing' scenario of life, I was reminded of the parable of the word that Jesus spoke of. The word that comes into our life in the midst of the thorns that surround us. The thorns representing the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches.
The cares of this world does not represent our caring for the world...it is how we allow the world to influence our cares. We not only have allowed the world to influence this, but then we actually attempt to carry these burdensome cares. However, aren't we suppose to do something with the cares? Yes! We are to cast those cares upon Jesus. But, why? Because He cares for us. He knows what those cares will do to us if we don't cast them upon Him...it will destroy us. He knows that the cares that we carry are a tool from Satan that will do what he does best...and that is destroy us. In addition to the cares, it isn't the riches that are decetiful, the deceitfulness is believing that the riches will take care of it all.
How do we cast our cares upon the Lord? We know what we are suppose to do, but HOW? For me, I am a very visual person. In this, I literally must fall to my knees and imagine Jesus seated on the throne. As I imagine such a beautiful scene, I lay prostrate with my arms extended as though every care and burden I have has been laid at His feet. Humbled before His majesty, He then gives me the wisdom to know how to utilize the tools that I must use to be a wife, mom, writer, volunteer, friend, daughter, sister, etc. The cares don't go away; however, they are now placed upon the One who cares and is able to show me how to execute with wisdom how to live in the midst of the cares. The Holy Breath of God, the Holy Spirit show me not to allow the 'cares' to rule me, but allowing the One who Cares for me to rule and reign over me with His overwhelming Love.
I am reminded that my heart need not remain in the midst of the thorns, but my heart can be of good ground who hears the word and understands it, bearing fruit in ways I never imagined.
Lord, thank You for being my Refuge and Help from the cares of this world. The rushing tides of life that attempt to hurry me through, attempting to overtake me and drown me in hopelessness. Thank You Lord that I get to have a relationship with You, Almighty God, the most Famous and Glorious One! Thank You for being our EVERYTHING, not just a supplement to when I need you...but You are my EVERYTHING...I not only need You, but I must desire and want You, humbled by Your Majesty! I love You Lord! Thank you for Your Triumphant Victorious Reminder of what I can possess in You! Hallelujah! In Jesus Awesome, Most Powerful, Majestic, Holy Name. Amen!
Scripture References:
Matthew 13: 22-23
I Peter 5:6-7
Great post! Thank-you for that reminder.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me think of "Be still, and know that I am God".
God bless you!
So good!
ReplyDelete