Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.—Mark 4:18-19
These explanatory words of Jesus in regard to The Parable of the Sower got me thinking. My heart belongs to Jesus but there are times in my life that my anxious thoughts threaten to overtake my heart and my peace. It helps me to remember that these cares and concerns I have are not mine but His. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.
Beloved…There is no one but Christ who is sufficient for the distresses and troubles of this life. It is by His grace that we as believers, are what we are and it is by His grace in us that our lives on this earth bear fruit.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Today, I will give each and every one of my cares to Him as His word so kindly and graciously tells me to do because the best way for me to maintain my joy is to keep in constant communion with my Father in heaven.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
What a gift He gives us in that, as we commit our care into His hands, He brings His supernatural peace to our hearts. Therefore, I will rejoice in my God. I will let my gentleness…my willingness to yield to Him in all things…be made manifest to those around me. I can because He is near. I can because He cares for me. He is my Immanuel. His grace is sufficient for all that I face, and His goodness and mercy ALWAYS follow hard after me.
FATHER…Give me a thankful attitude that comes from unwavering confidence that You are able and willing to do what is best for me. Keep watch over and guard my heart from anxiety, doubt, fear and distress by giving me Your peace in each and every situation I bring to You. I know the end of the story. I can return to my rest for You have dealt bountifully with me.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.—2 Corinthians 9:8
And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.—2 Corinthians 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.—1 Corinthians 3:5
