Encouragement for Today - Aug. 3, 2006
Encouragement for Today
Principle 1
“Plate Spinner”
Luann Prater, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member
Key Verse:
Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV)
Devotion:
Whenever you see the word ‘therefore’ in the Bible, you can be sure it is ‘there for’ a very special reason. Rick Warren asked the question in his book The Purpose Driven Life, “What is your life metaphor?” I always pictured the plate spinner at the circus. Between my husband, kids, job, friends and service duties, it seemed one plate was always wobbling! And just when I would focus my attention on the current unstable area, out of the corner of my eye I would spot another careening toward the floor.
No matter how hard I tried, someone or something reminded me that my attention was not evenly distributed. I remember one afternoon dropping to my knees in total exhaustion and wailing, “It’s never enough!”
Isn’t it interesting that it took an empty me to finally collapse into the position God had been longing to see me in? In Jeremiah 1:8 God promises, “…I am with you to deliver you.” And in Matthew
Does that mean that plates will never crash if we seek him first? No, it means we will never crash. The promise is to deliver you!
Oswald Chambers says, “We put our common sense on the throne and then attach God’s name to it.” Possessions and people let us down and often cause heartache and turmoil, however when our focus is on the Maker, our complaining turns to continuing steadily on.
In the key verse Jesus is telling us, if your priority is seeking Him and His righteousness first, then there is no reason to worry at all about wobbly situations in your life, for our Deliverer will keep us steady.
My Prayer for Today:
Jesus, thank you for caring about details so we don’t have to. Help me today to stop worrying about the unstable things in my life and focus first on my relationship with You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Write down everything that worries you, and then number them in order of priority. Then, across the top of the page write JESUS in red. Ask Jesus to draw you so near to Him that all other things will dim in the light of His presence.
Now, place your hand on each item as you pray out loud for each one on the list. When your prayer is complete, write Jesus across the entire list, knowing He will faithfully sustain you through it all.
Reflection Points:
Why do the worries of this world occupy my mind?
How can I depend less on me and more on God?
When will I take the time to seek God today?
Power Verses:
Luke
Luke 21:14, “But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 1:10, “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.” (NIV)
Additional Resources:
When You’re Running on Empty by Cindi McMenamin
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_whenYoure.htm
Running on Empty by Aaron Chambers
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_runningEmpty.htm
8 Keys for the Working Woman, ETC Column
http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/etcMar06.htm
