Corona Devo 188

Do you ever feel like your days are non-stop?  Or your weeks are non-stop, or your life is non-stop?

The chores, tasks, have-to's, meals, laundry, job, and people might change, but the requirements of us stay constant and heavy.  

But, if we think that our lives are non-stop, we can be comforted by The Comforter who had non-stop daily tasks (when He walked the Earth) that topped ours easily.  I do not say that to pooh-pooh our daily schedules and requirements, but to put our demands of life in perspective and to help us realize that just as Jesus relieved people of their burdens 2,000 years ago, He can do the same for us today.

In Matthew Chapter 9, I was overwhelmed just reading all that Jesus had on his plate in one day:

18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”

19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.

27 After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”

“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” 31 But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.

32 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.  ~Matthew 9:18-33

Did you catch all of that?  Wow!  What a day at the office!  Every time Jesus turned around there was a new person or need to be addressed, and He met every challenge head-on, and cloaked with patience and love.  Jesus is a great role-model for us during our "non-stop" days. 

1. A father requested Jesus to bring his child back to life.

2. A woman who had been bleeding for 12 years came and asked for His healing.

3. Two blind men followed Jesus and asked him for their sight.

4. A demon-possessed man who could not speak was brought to Him for the demon to be cast-out.  

Talk about being overworked and misunderstood!  Jesus did everything good and right, but people always wanted more and rarely understood who He was or what He was doing.  Let's not make the same mistake.

Our days and lives are busy, but Jesus can relate.  His days were booked-solid when He walked the earth, but His power changes things, and He will change our lives if we will pencil-Him-in.  

Lord, guard our hearts from repetitive complaining, even if it is unspoken.  You see our tasks and responsibilities and you meet us in them.  You may even provide a miracle if we ask you into our situations:  

1. Where a relationship, situation, or feelings have died, we ask you to bring life back.

2. If we have perpetually lost joy, purpose, or life in a certain area over the years, we ask you to stop the hemorrhaging and bring us, our situations and our families to wholeness and (spiritual/mental/physical) health.

3. For the areas of our lives where we have been blinded by pain, anger, entitlement, abandonment and sheer exhaustion: refresh our sight, Lord.  Open our eyes to Your plan in our lives.  Give us faith to see our lives as You do. 

4. Do we have unspoken sin in our lives?  Buried under our surface and within us?  The truth of it mutes our voices for you because of our shame.  Cast it out, Lord.  Whatever "demon" of sin or fear or shame hides inside: You went to the cross to remove it from us, and cast it out.  Lord, remove anything that separates us from You, and unleash our voices to proclaim Your healing and Your goodness in our lives.  

Can we take a deep breath and a refreshed view of our "responsibilities" today, and gather strength from the examples and truth that the Bible gives us of how Jesus "shows up" for people and in our lives?  He revives us, He bandages our wounds, He opens our eyes, and Jesus can replace our bad with His good.

Jesus has scheduled Himself into every activity and thought on our dockets, and all we need to do is invite Him to attend.  His love for us is non-stop.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com