When I drew the circle of the sun, I didn’t know the lesson would be for me. I placed the initial of her friend inside the circle, and drew lines radiating out: church, family, feelings, fun, activities, health. I showed her how giving someone so much importance affected other areas of her life. Hurt feelings, unforgiven, took its toll on how she interacted with others, how she felt about activities she once enjoyed, to even her health and the outbreak of headaches and tummy aches.
I stared at the center circle and the life lines radiating out. And I filled in that space with the things in my life that took up my thoughts: a strained relationship, a house for sale, the Other Things that felt like weights on my shoulders. And I saw how they all were affecting the lines of my life: family, feelings, health, activities.
Only One deserves that center spot.
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8 (NLT)
I wondered over the words of my witness lately. Was it possible my daughter was just following my lead? If I put this world and worries at the focus of my life, how would she ever learn to put God as the focus of hers?
12And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. James 5:12a (The Message)
Being a Christian doesn’t mean my life will be free of problems. All those things that weigh me down are still here. While they are very real and very present, they don’t have to be the source of my joy, worth, success or peace. Only One deserves the title of My Everything.
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. James 5:13-15 (The Message)
Father, I am grateful again for your reminder that you hold it all together. You are my hope, my rock, my salvation, my refuge. I am so thankful for this quiet time with you, where I can come to you in prayer and tell you all the things on my heart–in this time I find rest in you, strengthening, peace. You are so good to me. I love you.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 