Carefree part 5
Being careful for nothing, but with everything giving thanks... is a more excellent way to live. It really is. Instead of running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, looking for love in all the wrong places, trying to be someone you're not in order to get something you think you haven't got... you can be stil and know that HE is God. You can let Jesus take the wheel, to quote that (not so) old song. But letting Jesus take the wheel doesn't mean you don't do anything. Rest is not inactivity. Rest is Holy Spirit directed activity. Not trying to follow in Jesus's foot steps (nobody can do that), but letting Jesus make His own foot steps with our feet. Living in Him as He lives in us. Trusting in Him as He moves in us. In Him we live, and move, and have our being. There is no separation between God and man because God lives IN man. And to me, that's what gives me the faith, and the confidence, to live this life I live in the flesh. I was crucified with Christ. I died. Yet I live. Because HE lives in me! So what, honestly, do I have to worry about? I can have peace. I can be of good cheer. Because HE has overcome the world. He conquered, and I'm more than a conquerer. He finished the work and I get to enjoy the fruit of His labor. I don't have to worry, because I can cast my cares upon HIm. Because He cares for me. And I don't necessarily think that means we should spend all our time focused on our problems, either. I don't think that means our prayer life should be a list of gripes and complaints. I think that means... let go and let God. Focus on the solution, not the problem. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Look at the snake on the pole, not the ones nipping at your ankles. Look and live! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and that will fix a lot of your problems. Focus on what you have, not what you think you don't have. We have no lack because our God has no lack. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands! Our heavenly Father wanted the best for us, so He gave the best to us when He gave us His only begotten Son! We don't have to struggle through this life. We can experience and enjoy the abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of God--which is the gift of God--simply by knowing it and believing it. Receiving it and releasing it. Breathing it (HIM, Jesus, love) in and out. Letting what's inside come out. And when you're full of light, there's no room for darkness. When you are firmly planted on the Rock, you cannot be shaken. You don't have to be full of cares, making mountains out of molehills, and you certainly won't be careless, treating people like collateral damage. You'll find that sweet spot right in the middle where you major on the majors and minor on the minors. Because make no mistake--there ARE things worth caring about. First and foremost: God and people. Loving God and loving people. Loving God BY loving people. That's our purpose. That's why we were created. God made us so that He could love us and we could love Him back by loving each other. It's that simple. If you care about love... you're right where you need to be. Let the Word (which is Jesus, which is love) be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. Let what's inside come out, by knowing and believing that it's in there. And let God fight your battles for you. He already won the war to end all wars. Which means there are no more wars. Fight the good fight of faith by laying hold of eternal life. Experiencing and enjoying the gift you've been given by giving it away! Cast your cares on God, and you love on everybody you come into contact wtih!