Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Working in Vain
Psalm 127 begins reminding us that if God doesn't build the house or guard the city, anything else done to build or protect is in vain. It doesn't matter how much effort we put into it if we are working with the Lord. As I referred to previously, Blackaby reminds us to find where the Lord is working and to join Him. So often all our human efforts go into things that have no real worth. We work so to "succeed" in all the ways the world identifies success. We give all our efforts to "getting it all". But in the end, the things we have gotten have no eternal value whatsoever! God protects and watches over the building of His house and city! I want to live in that city both now and eternally. I pray that God will show me where He wants me to work! There have been times recently when I have looked at my life and felt that my life had no real meaning -- no purpose. Even though I knew this was a falsehood put into my head by Satan, I could relate to it. All the things that I had previously planned for, worked for, etc. was now gone! I had not ever imagined that my life would be as it is today! I know I have been blessed so abundantly by the Lord and I am so thankful. But my life now ...... I had to remind myself that the Lord who blessed me in the past, would continue to do so, that He loved me with an everlasting love, that He was longsuffering and merciful, and understood exactly what I was going through and will continue to do so. He is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow -- Thank you Lord!!! I truly want to be in His will and doing His work. I am in the Vine and through the Vine, I have life. Because of that life, I can produce good fruit and live! Without it, I will die! I want to be a good worker with Him. Working on things that have eternal value -- not futile work. During the difficult times, rest/sleep has proved difficult. The verse that says God gives sleep/rest to those He loves brings deep comfort to me. I have found at times that I have difficulty just deciding to go to bed, let alone sleep. I now know I need to focus on getting the appropriate rest I need to be able to do what God would have me to do. Also I can rest in the promise that because He loves me, He gives me rest! Amen!
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OOOOHHHH Annette, I was hit over the head about the sleep thing too! I was so into day 5's study about not working in vain and thinking about how we need to look and see where God is working and join him, and wait patiently for Him. I was thinking about how we are sometimes so very dedicated to doing something for the Lord but we need to be sure it is doing what He is already working on or it will be in vain. Then we get to the part about He gives sleep to those He loves. Whoa! I thought, I am not getting sleep...does he love me...of course, that's a no brainer! Why am I not getting sleep? Hmmm, maybe I am not working in the area that God is working and therefore working too hard, too long, and in vain. I am sabotaging myself with lack of sleep. This was a huge ah-hah! moment for me. I must listen to this because as I read further and saw how it impacted Beth then I thought well you can't gloss over this one. Then I read your blog and I said, okey, this is an important message that God is trying to get across in a very simple small verse. He loves us and He wants us to get adequate sleep to do His will. Makes sense! Why do we do this to ourselves is my question? Well, I am going to pray that God will help me in this critical area so that I can be better equipped to carry out the sowing He is calling me to do. I pray that this will then cause Him to recieve the glory for the abundant harvest and healthy living that results.
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