S)"2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep."
Psalm 127:2 (NASB)
O) The rat race... Chasing that dollar is completely useless, because it is God who blesses. God doesn't even have to provide the opportunity for more hours at your job, or a promotion in your career. He can bless you, even while you do nothing to earn the blessing. That is grace. It's like Lecrae says, satan has a rat trap for this rat race.
A) This is a timely lesson for me to learn. I've been working a lot of overtime at work lately, because I feel like I need to be making more money. We'll be moving sometime next Summer, we have a trip to WA this Fall, and I'm trying to bless my wife with some things (during that trip), and general bills and expenses to cover... without realizing it, I think I've become stressed out about my finances. That kind of insecurity leads to sin; I know that from lots and lots of experience. I need to focus on God, and His goodness to me. Obviously, we are all called to work for our food (2 Thessalonians 3:10), but I cannot lose sight that it is God who blesses, not Blue Shield of CA. It is God who makes sure I have enough to eat, not the number of hours I work. It is God who blesses my wife with gifts, not me. I never want to make it sound like Kristin is, in anyway, stressing me out. It's my desire to bless her that has become unbalanced (I know you'll probably read this, Kristin; do not let satan accuse you!). Looking back, I'm not sure I ever even prayed to ask God if I should work this overtime...
P) Father, Your grace is too much for me. I don't deserve the the forgiveness You've given me. I don't deserve entrance to Heaven. In between, LORD, I don't deserve Your blessings and gifts, but I can't be fooled into thinking You will stop blessing me in this life. This was a slow drift into lost focus, God; Holy Spirit, clarify my sight. Reset my thinking to acknowledge that I have no worries or concerns regarding my financial well-being, as long as I am doing the will of the Father. From here, LORD, direct my steps. According to Your will, LORD, I will continue to work overtime, or not. You know how much work I need - not to produce a paycheck - to keep me humble, fruitful, and productive. Restore balance in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
P) Father, Your grace is too much for me. I don't deserve the the forgiveness You've given me. I don't deserve entrance to Heaven. In between, LORD, I don't deserve Your blessings and gifts, but I can't be fooled into thinking You will stop blessing me in this life. This was a slow drift into lost focus, God; Holy Spirit, clarify my sight. Reset my thinking to acknowledge that I have no worries or concerns regarding my financial well-being, as long as I am doing the will of the Father. From here, LORD, direct my steps. According to Your will, LORD, I will continue to work overtime, or not. You know how much work I need - not to produce a paycheck - to keep me humble, fruitful, and productive. Restore balance in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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