Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Step Aside!

'"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.'" Matthew 5:3 (The Message)

You've heard this verse many times--"Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven."--in the NIV translation. But I choose this translation because, at least to me, it put a new light on it. Maybe it struck a cord (no pun intended) with me because of my country girl background.

It's pretty blunt--to the point. "You are blessed when you're at the end of your rope." What!? You mean to tell me that when I am about to lose it--I'm suppose to be thanking God? Yup! That it is a gift? Certainly. That I am to count it all joy? Absolutely.

"With less of you there is more of God and His rule." Do you find that odd to hear? It's true you know. If you think of those times when you are totally at your wits end, when you feel that you are losing control--of your life, your situation, your emotions--that's when God can step in.

And isn't that the key? When we are healthy, when everything seems, at least for the moment, in control, when you are in your happy place, we think that we have controlled our environment pretty nicely. We can become pretty proud of ourselves, can't we? Pretty self-sufficient. There can, at times, be no room for God. Thank you, but really God, can't you see that I have it pretty well handled?

Don't you know that when we, when you, are at your lowest, that's when Jesus shines the brightest? That so many of His miracles happen when you are totally dependant on Him, and not on yourself? When yourself has stepped aside from the doorway to your spirit and makes room for your Father to do what He does best--make you complete.

You are your Father's child--stop keeping Him at a distance and invite Him in. It's a natural fit.

2 comments:

  1. we've been reading the message as a family (cause it's pretty easy to understand, and beautifully written). I also like the fact that you don't tend to breeze over those verses that we've heard so many times before, because it is said in a whole new way.

    It really is a joy to suffer with Jesus (as it is said in just about every book in the new testament). I've been reading some amazing stories of people living in the persecuted church... and you can really feel their joy leaking out. Does mine? I don't know if there is an English word for the conviction I feel with this. (there is a sign in ASL that does. It's a clinching hand over your adam's apple... looks to me like *gulp*. )

    Thanks for your posts... I do read them regularly even if I don't comment.

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  2. Thanks for the encouragment. I pray the Lord belss you and your family.

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