Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Attitude”
Our Bible verse for today: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.” Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
Our thought for today: “Bring it to Jesus.”
Ok, time for true confessions, and I’ll start with me. When I allow myself to get stressed-out I tend to get grumpy, irritable, short with people, and even mildly depressed.
I know, I know, you’re shocked. You thought pastors lived in a constant state of prayer and that we walk around all day loudly singing “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine …” Well, perhaps other pastors do but this one tends to get stressed-out and grumpy from time-to-time.
Now is one of those times. I’m getting ready to leave on Friday to take a small medical and dental team on a two week mission trip into the restricted region of the Amazon Jungle. And as Satan always does, in the days before departing he always creates extra problems for the team members. Family or church members get sick and need special attention; or you get sick; or the car breaks down; or difficult people become more difficult than they normally are. This afternoon I will unexpectedly be getting extensive dental work – $3000 worth (no dental insurance); and on it goes.
So pardon me while I spit and sputter and kick the dog. (Ok, just kidding. If I kicked the dog Linda would kick me!)
I know I’m not just describing my life but yours as well. We all go through times like that. The prophet Isaiah had a bit of advice for us regarding such times. He recorded it in Isaiah 26:3. There he reminds us that God will keep us in perfect peace if we first keep our mind fixed on Him.
In other words (in New Testament terms), we are to bring it all to the feet of Jesus and leave it there. This is what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 11:28-30 when He said:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (HCSB)
When life seems to be closing-in on you and your attitude is slipping, that’s when you need to spend even more time focused on the Lord. Bring it all to Him and lay it at His feet. Allow Him to carry the burdens for you. When we do that, as both Isaiah and Jesus said, we find relief. The fear, anxiety, doubts, stress and strain start to melt away and in exchange we get peace.
So give your spouse, your co-workers, your friends, and that poor dog a break. Give it all to Jesus instead.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 