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This Week’s Devotional Topic
A TIRED PERSPECTIVE
I am pretty tired today. Being tired is part of the sin curse, an example is found in Genesis chapter 3.
Genesis 3:17 And to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
We all have times when we are tired. It may be physically, after working on something. Or having had a long, stressful day on the job. You could be tired spiritually after significant time and effort in ministry. And the amount of time you are tired could vary from very briefly, a few days or a season of your life. Some of us get locked in to a “Tired Perspective”. One phrase I’ve heard and actually used myself a few times is that “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired”. God knows how we are made and makes provisions to help us during those times of need. Let’s invest time in God’s word together.
Psalms 103:13,14 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
One of the most important cures for tiredness is faith.
Matthew 9:20-22 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Mark 10:51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Another tool to conquer our weaknesses is Prayer. It is always important to pray, especially when we are in need of strength.
I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Luke 18:1 One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
James 4:2 “…you do not have, because you do not ask..”
Christ told the disciples in John 16…
John 16:22-24 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
When we are tired and weak, then we need to adjust our “tired perspective” to think about and focus on better things.
Philippians 4:6-9 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
I really appreciate the way that Paul dealt with his issues. Look at II Corinthians…
II Corinthians 12:8-10 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
God help us to have that same perspective – Amen.
This week’s Scripture:
Psalms 103:13,14; Genesis 3:17; Matthew 9:20-22; Isaiah 40:28-31; I Thessalonians 5:17; Mark 10:51; James 4:2; John 16:22-24; Philippians 4:6-9 and II Corinthians 12:8-10
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