"Say Ahh"https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/keeper-of-my-wings-ep/id938025402
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."
1 Peter 5:7
When The Lord asks you to cast your cares upon Him (because He cares for you), do you? I mean, do you really give all of your problems, worries and struggles to Him? Well, if you're like me, I've said that I would cast my cares upon The Lord, but didn't (actually). All I did was announce it, and then I laid it down nearby where it was easily assessable and I could conveniently pick it up whenever I wanted self pity, attention and/or sympathy. When God asks us to do something we have to have the faith and obedience to do it because He knows what He's talking about. He's an all knowing God. He knows our nature and it's to naturally sin.
When I am in my self pity mode, I tend to attract more circumstances that draw upon those feelings of despair and hopelessness. The cycle is never broken. Earlier this year I suffered a burglary at my home. My complete music studio was taken along with all of my hard drives and expensive microphones. I was devastated. I prayed and I thought I gave it to The Lord. However, I continued to curse, bring up the burglary in every conversation and make rants and declarations against the thief. I didn't turn over anything to The Lord. My prayers were probably gigantic rants.
One day I brought up my situation to a friend who was well aware of my burglary. I told him how angry I was (still). He casually and intently replied "Oh, I thought you gave it over to The Lord?" I argued back that I had, but hypocritically realized I wasn't making any sense. I meditated on it and I began to pray for forgiveness. I also forgave the thief and asked The Lord to take the burden off me. I lifted up my hands to heaven, I visualized my hands reaching up to the hands of The Lord. I could actually see myself giving my problems over to The Lord. Like a sprinter hands over the baton to the next leg - I passed on my worries and every struggle. That moment I suddenly felt lighter. I sighed an "Ahh" and just felt good. I was done worrying and beating my self up, day after day, repeating the same ole story (as if people needed a refresher from the complaint department).
I was wallowing in my burdens and dragging everyone else in there with me. Why? They say misery loves company. Well, from that moment I had a revelation. I realized that when The Lord lifts the burdens off of your shoulders, you should feel a physical relief. Now I know the bible thumpers will argue "It's spiritual, it's spiritual!" Yes it is, but our bodies have been carrying these burdens, struggles and problems and it weighs you down, not only spiritually, but physically as well. I don't know about you, but when I am weight training at the gym and I've picked up a
heavy weight, when I drop it and put the weight down I let out a strong sigh of relief. It feels so good to let go! Again, I say "Ahh". It's a great feeling because you know you're done with carrying all of that weight. You suddenly feel free to live again. You feel great because you gave up your worries and they exists no more.
I encourage you as you're reading this to think what's been weighing you down recently. Think about all of the time you spent worrying about it and complaining to others about it as well. Now lift up your hands to The Lord and ask Him to carry this burden because you believe His Word and that He really cares for you. Now really hand over this burden to The Lord. See His hand stretch forth and hand it over directly to Him. Let your hand touch His hand and see the problem transfer from your hand to His. I mean actually see the transaction. And that's what it is - when you really think about it. It's a transaction. I'm going to give The Lord my burdens in exchange for peace of mind. "Thou wilt give him perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee." Isaiah 26:3.
Now that sounds like a good idea to me. And it doesn't costs you anything! Nothing at all, but an honest prayer.
Now that I've given all of my problems to The Lord I thank Him and I praise Him. My worship is free, uninhibited and completely focused on Him.
Because, that's what He wanted the whole time. Time with me. Time to hang, share, love and adore. It all makes sense to me.
So lift up your hands to The Lord, letting go of every struggle and feel the weight leave your body. Then smile upward towards The Lord and say "Ahh!"
Keeper of My Wings
