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Listen while you read: "Revive Thy Work O Lord"1
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Proverbs 12:25 – Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer. (CEV)
Sometimes, when I used to see students carrying heavy backpacks to school and everywhere they went, I wondered what was so precious that they wouldn't let it go. I imagine that the things that they carried back in those days were their phones, tablets, compact disc players, and video game players. These were things that they could not have on their desks or they would be confiscated. Even though they knew that these things were to remain in their backpacks and couldn't be used at school, they continued to carry them in their backpacks.
Like those backpacks, we tend to carry our anxieties and worries with us. They are heavy burdens that weigh down our mind, emotions, and body. These worries weigh us down because every day we pick them up and take them everywhere that we go, and they are continuously in our minds and hearts. We are so used to carrying them that we forget that Jesus said, "If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 CEV) When we empty our hearts, minds, and lives of worries and anxiety, we will be able to fulfil the apostle Paul's admonition:
Philippians 4:8-9 – Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. (CEV)
Only then will we experience God's peace that surpasses understanding.
Because we like to be in control of our lives, however, most often we don't want to surrender our hurts, anger, anxiety, worries, and problems to the Lord. We are like two-year-old children who insist on putting on their own socks and shoes, no matter how difficult it is. We stubbornly hold on to our burdens, determined that we can do it ourselves. It seems that we may even feel that if we turn all our worries over to God that He will begin to manipulate us, or that we will become puppets. So, we keep carrying our backpacks full of worries and problems. God loves us. God wants us to let Him free us completely so that we can be free indeed. The Lord doesn't want us to be burdened. He wants us to be safe, protected, and covered in His loving-kindness and loyal love.
Prayer: Lord, help us to give You our heavy backpacks of worry, anxiety, hurts, anger, and problems that are in our minds and hearts every day, so that we can find rest for our souls. Encourage us with Your faithfulness, mercy, compassion, and love. Fill us with Your peace and joy so that we can cheer and shout in victory. Amen.
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About the author:
Becky Lucero <ml2939@yahoo.com>
El Paso, Texas, USA
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Thank-you!
What a great analogy!!
A good word, Becky. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed your message. Very encouraging!!
Talk it over with the Lord and you will find peace.
Thank you for today’s Meditation. Very comforting.
Thank you for today’s devotional clearly Spirit led. I found it very helpful.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Good morning, Becky. Thanks for that encouraging devotional. A great read. Wishing you many Blessings.
Good morning, Becky!
Thank you for your lovely prayer today.
Blessings!
Love it! I’m using poles for walking now, so have put my old hiking backpack to good use. Thanks, Becky!
(BC)
Hello Becky,
Thanks so much for a much-needed theme in your excellent devotion today. I hope to hear from you again soon.
Thanks, Becky. Years ago, a friend used to tell me to take off that backpack that I was wearing that was full of worry and throw it over in the corner and leave it there. Don’t be tempted to go pick it back up. This is a good reminder.
Perfect! How come we need to be reminded of this principle all the time?
This is incredibly timely for me – the Lord keeps on telling me to just lay down the burdens and let Him do what He has promised to do – ie. take every care of our needs, much better than we can ourselves. (He has a better vantage point from which to arrange all the timing of all the issues!) Thank you for your insight.
Thanks, Becky, for your good comparison of “loaded backpacks” and how we can burden ourselves with worries and anxiety. We need remember that our loving Lord is ever ready to hear our pleas and release our woes when we come to Him in prayer with our requests. He is so deserving of our constant love and praise as He is ever present to serve us. Blessings for your mindful writing.
As a hiker and a heavy backpack carrier, I can really appreciate the symbolism of setting down the load. There were times when I considered leaving my pack hanging high in the tree. With God, I can do just that, can’t I? Leave my backpack of cares and go on without.
Thank you for writing.
(Manitoba)
Beautiful and to the point Becky! Blessings.
From: Becky Lucero:
Good morning. Thank you everyone who left feedback on my devotional. Your words were encouraging to me. Thank God we can cast our cares on Him for He cares for us. Blessings.