YourDailyCup

Cast Off Your Cares, He’ll Take It From Here!

yourdailycup — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:00:49 +0000

The simple lyrics of the song, “I Cast All My Cares Upon You” keep playing in my head:

I cast all my cares upon you

I lay all of my burdens,

Down at Your feet

Anytime, I don’t know

Just what to do,

I cast all my cares upon You.

How often we get weighted down by the cares of this world and continue to carry the worry and stress on our own shoulders. We definitely “don’t know just what to do” so much of the time. And I think we often forget that in our intimate relationship with the Lord, we have the luxury of casting the weight of each and every one of those cares onto God’s shoulders. Unlike most of our earthly relationships, He not only knows every bit about each of our heartaches, but He genuinely cares. We are not likely to be inclined to pour out our hearts to people we feel we are burdening with our problems. Perhaps they do not have time to listen. Surely they do not want to take on our problems for us and say, “You relax. I’m an expert on this issue. I’ll take it from here.” But that is exactly what God communicates to us. Just remember how gloriously different the love of God is from any love you have ever experienced here on earth. You have the freedom to “cast all you cares on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Whatever is weighing you down today, relax, throw it on God’s shoulders, He’s an expert in the issue you can be certain… and surely He is saying to you today, “Baby, I’ll take it from here.”

Dragging Your Feet Or Running with Reckless Abandon?

yourdailycup — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:19:40 +0000

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. Ephesians 1:18-19

Recently I began thinking about the sobering fact that, as believers in Christ, we live in a culture and have the spiritual mindset that we have to be routinely convinced to walk in relationship with the Lord. Yes, we proclaim Him as our Savior and say He is in fact the God over our lives. But a bird’s eye view would show we really have many different saviors and gods that demand far more of our energy and passion from us. And, I fear without outside motivation from churches and the like, our desire for Him might just shrivel up.

We are by no means desperate in our pursuit of this Christ, starving for the hope He offers. And I took a hard look at myself. Oh, I do not want to be convinced, begged, nor talking into just walking after a Savior I know is all too worth chasing after with reckless abandon! Lord, is it that the eyes of our understanding have not been enlightened?

I think truly we must not know just what the hope of His calling is…. the riches of His blessings, and “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” If we only knew that we could trade in this mediocre life for unimaginable abundance! Lord, I know you are looking down at the lives you so desperately want to fill saying, “My child, I have so much more for you!” Because the hope of your calling is a life filled with more… assurance, freedom, victory, power, fruitful living, joy, answered prayer, blessings, power, God’s love…. these are just of few of the riches we pass by when we settle for less than He has for us. Are the eyes of your understanding being enlightened? Don’t drag your feet… run with passion!

Dip Into Some Gentleness

yourdailycup — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:12:20 +0000

Philippians 4:4 says “let your gentleness be evident to all.”

I think this could basically just be a life goal for me! Lord, will I ever be gentle! I don’t think I am rude, but I am definitely an outspoken, opinionated, and maybe overly expressive woman at times. And a lot of good can come from this passion and personality if wrapped in self-control. But I continue to wander back to these words in Philippians and really wonder, “Was I even wired to be gentle Lord!”

Recently, I heard speaker and author Patsy Clairmont tell a cute tale about her outspoken nature coming through in an airport confrontation. She said, with a cute disgust in her voice, “Sometimes, aren’t you just OVER yourself?!” YES!!! I really am! I am SOOO over myself sometimes. I am over the fact that, when I get irritated with my precious children and loving husband, I tend to NOT respond with a gentle tone. I am totally over all of the opportunities I have to respond with gentleness and instead continue to choose to have a gruff Spirit instead. And there you have it! I CHOOSE whether I am going to be gentle.

No, I do not know if I will ever be wired to be gentle by nature. Not my fleshly nature. But I do know I have a God who has given me His Spirit, one of gentleness, and it is there for the taking. An abundance of gentleness is at my fingertips, if I just choose to dip in and take hold of some!

God Will Give You the Rain for Your Land in its Season

yourdailycup — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:08:50 +0000

Deuteronomy 11:13-21 NKJV ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’ Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the LORD’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.” ‘

Remember that your greatest effort in life is earnestly seeking after God and His commandments. He assures you that HE will provide. But be aware of being deceived into thinking it is you and your efforts and the things of this world that are creditted for what you have. You will soon start to serve these “other gods” (the chief one being yourself). God may put you in check. Remember who God is. It is not you. You may feel desperate for your fields to filled in this current season of your life. Don’t toil in vain. Turn to the One who can fill them.

Help Lord, I Cannot Carry All These People By Myself!

yourdailycup — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:06:11 +0000

Moses said to the Lord in Number 11:14, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.”

It is pretty unpopular in our society not to have it all together. Moms seem to be so worn out and seem to feel like the over-packed lifestyle is making them a better mom. Admitting our exhaustion is definitely not en vogue.

But Moses knew he was worn out and had to draw some strength to go on. He felt he could no longer carry the Israelites if he did not get some help. Maybe you feel you can no longer carry your family if you God does not come in and lighten your load.

Just remember, He never asked you to do it by yourself and He never wanted your burdens to overwhelm you. God is not looking for you to receive a “Mother of the Year” award that causes you to lose you mind. Try tapping into a “peace that surpasses all understanding” this year instead!

Does Satan Come into Your House on Sunday Mornings?

yourdailycup — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:03:31 +0000

I was laughing with my sister-in-law last night about how herendous Sunday mornings can be. We can get out of the house every other morning during the week, far earlier than we have to on Sundays, with no problem! Why in the world does Sunday become so wild and crazy, attempting to go to church?! My sister-in-law laughed and said, “Satan comes in to your home on Sunday mornings!” So funny, but really, possibly so true.

Philippians 4:4 reminds us to, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice! Let you gentleness be evident to all. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I’m not sure if it’s the work of Satan or perhaps just ME that is responsible for most of the family chaos on Sunday mornings. Satan may be making a weekly visit, but I definitely know I’m here in physical and emotional form. “Let your GENTLENESS be evident to all” resounds in my ears. To all? Does that include this husband and kids of mine too?! And, for my efforts, God says he will bring peace. Even on Sunday mornings of all times!

Discernment is Free… Just Ask!

yourdailycup — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:00:35 +0000

Romans 16:17-20 says, ‘I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.’
Regaring this passage: Discernment is such a necessary quality in the life of a Christian. God says if any of us lack wisdom, to simply ask of Him and He will provide it (James 1:5). I relate to this passage and know I often am one of those very naive people… easily deceived by false teachings presented with smooth words and flattery.

Sometimes, it can be so difficult to distinguish truth in this whirlwind of a world. But we serve a Mighty God who is not confused and has assured us that we can always turn to Him for Truth and guidance. He gives us the tools to be wise about what is good and innocent of evil. In a world where Satan reigns, we serve the “God of peace that will soon crush Satan” under our very own feet! Now that’s a Word that should energize us today!

Keep Your Eyes On Your Calling, Not Your Credentials

yourdailycup — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:26:31 +0000

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” I Cor. 26-31

Do you see your calling? Many of us have been looking at our our calling for years only to be stunted by the inability to see beyond our weaknesses and shortcomings. Perhaps, it is because we chase after pursuits that glorify us. But, contrary to what our nature tells us, God is not looking for a particularly sharp bunch to carry out his will. He is just looking for a particulary devoted bunch! He is looking for His strength to be made perfect in your weakness. He already had what it takes. But remember, you won’t be receiving the glory. You will glory in Him getting the glory when people balk and say,”Wow! Now, that MUST have been God. There no way that old sap could have accomplished something like that.” And the amazing part of it all is, you will sit back and say, “I know, can hardly believe it either! God IS so good.”

Living BEYOND Myself in an “All About Me” World

yourdailycup — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:52:07 +0000

Our American culture has got to be at the top of the charts when it comes to “All About Me” ratings. Americans love to win and I think we may just have won the gold medal in that self-focus category. But, the more I comtemplated the subject of self absorption, I began to realize that our world has always been made up of less-than-perfect humans that just love to love themselves. When Jesus commanded to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mat. 19:19) he knew he was talking to a people who loved themselves the most! And he knew that simple little phrase would forever go against our human nature. Love others more than I love myself? “No,” Jesus probably thought, “I don’t even expect that of you yet precious little one.” I just want you to try to look beyond yourself, get your thoughts off of you, and think of others in the light that you would think of yourself. Use the same care, the same compassion, excuse the same offenses with neighbors, not just friends. Be set apart (Ps.4:3) and live beyond yourself in this all about me world. Now that’s freedom!