Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
We had been intensely focused on business concerns when the call came. A dear friend was whisked off to the hospital with blood pressure 65 over 15, unconscious. Suddenly that awareness that there are more important things in this life than personal concerns swept through us. We prayed.
It took ten hours for word to comeback that she was stable and the problem identified. Danger was averted and a plan put in place to see to her medical condition. We could relax.
Then I went right back to worrying about my own problems. I went right back into the pattern I was in before the call. I slept about three hours last night because of it. What’s wrong with me?
I see a need to pray for others, for God to find a way out of a dark place and back into the safety of His arms. Why can I not do the same for myself? God cares about me. God has been gracious to me. Why don’t I take my worries to the Lord in prayer?
I know in my heart “Kingdom business” first. But I do not see my business as being “Kingdom business” and I have this attitude that I have to take care of my business. It just escapes me that while I am in the world, I am not of the world. I am Kingdom business. I may not have the immediate health treat of my friend, but if I keep up this pattern of restless nights and loss of sleep it can affect my health. Then it will be Kingdom business for others to intercede with prayer.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Thank you most gracious God, my Father in Heaven. Shine a light upon my path to lead me out of this dark place, back to your loving arms. Amen
My dear brother, you said,
“Then, I went right back to worrying about my own problems”……wow, that sounds like a “default setting”!!. You know how I know? “There is no temptation overtaking you that is not common to man.” I’ve been there, done that, got the T shirt,…and burnt it. I’m going to share some of Pastor Shawn’s message of last week. He has spent 3 weeks on the Word “WOW”. Last week it centered on “Jesus was wowed”. In Matthew 8:10, Jesus was astonished (wowed) at the Centurian’s GREAT faith. In Mark 6:6, Jesus was amazed (wowed) when He saw their LACK of faith. The thing that WOWED Jesus had to do with FAITH alone. Dear brother, I can’t change your “FAITH” content, but in Luke 17, the disciples said “Lord increase our faith”…….even His own disciples who walked physically with Him, were aware of their ” faith content”.
In 2001, I signed up for Social Security…shortly after, we had our identity stolen, massive charges made on our credit cards etc. I heard Jesus say “lay it at My feet, too big for you to handle”, so I did. It took 7 years to get it straightened out. In 2012, my Social Security number was compromised and someone attached herself to me trying to extract a huge refund from the IRS…..I laid this also at Jesus feet. I bow in worship at my Savior’s feet, because I have not lost any sleep through any of this. I can take NO credit, nor do I dare look DOWN on anyone else, but I pray for you and anyone who doesn’t have what my Lord has given to me. My key came years ago, when God clearly showed to me, that all I was here for was to be a channel of blessing, from His heart of LOVE, down to His creation, and HE has complete control of my life.
I love you, dear brother, and I trust my Lord can use me to help in the answer to your prayer.
I offer this to You, Lord Jesus, use it if You can to help my dear brother. AMEN.