Verse for today…Mark 4:19
But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful.
I struggle with each of these Word-chokers —
I think much too much about my circumstances, about what people think about me, about what other people are choosing to do with their lives (last time I checked, it’s none of my business).How often do I follow a rabbit trail of an inconsequential thought and get myself worked up or just plain waste my time on something trivial?Too often!
I just recently heard it said that we can only hold one thought in our minds at a time. And I act as if I believe have no control over what that thought is! Lord, help me dwell me dwell on what is good and pure and noble and trustworthy. Let my “one thought” be of You more and more each day.
I also fall prey to the lie that one more cute blouse or pair of flats will complete my wardrobe, i.e. complete me. The lie that things can fill my deep need. (Oh, to bottle the feeling of empty that comes after the purchase have been put away…)
And I desire so many things other than God. They are even good things — I desire a strong partnership. I desire to be an emotionally healthy mother. I desire to be in unbroken unity with my closest friends. I desire to lead the AIDS Team effectively and passionately. I desire to be an encouragement in my writing and speaking. None of this seems selfish or ill-motivated, however…
I, I, I, I, I. Whatever happened to, “Lord, Your will be done”?
All of these things can cloud my focus. My one thing needs to be Jesus. His Word needs to be my marching orders, my worries-coverer-over, my truth-revealer, my desire-filler. Only then, or at least only as I strive for that to be the fact of my life, will there be space enough for the Word to breathe, take root in me, and be fruitful.
