The Flame Within

This Christian counselor saw a Christian counselor today and she pointed me towards the hope found in God’s word. Everyone needs a counselor from time to time, especially counselors! She spoke truth to my heart in areas where I have been intermittently tempted to worry! She reminded me of the importance of self-care! How funny is it that every counselor I’ve ever seen has reminded me of the importance of self-care? Could it be an ongoing issue in my life? It’s true, all too often I put myself on the back burner and attempt to take care of everyone and everything else. It’s always a helpful and much needed reminder! She showed me in God’s word where Jesus himself needed an escape from overwork and was drained by ministry. This was freeing! This is the passage she lead me to. I love how God’s word is full of applicable and time sensitive truths!

“Crowds Follow Jesus”
Mark 3:7-12 “Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.”

She asked me to think about what my escape boat entails? What do I have in my life that allows me to refuel, refocus, and regain energy? Good question??? As tears filled my eyes… {Of course, I pushed them down! I’m tough after all!} 😉

Thankfully, I have many blessings in my life! Many things that bring me joy and rejuvenate my weary spirit! However, I need more discipline in this area! These days I’m finding myself more weary, side tracked, and overwhelmed!

{For women only section}
We women often take on the weight of our jobs, husbands, kids, parents, family, friends, church, and more. It can be downright overwhelming! This aspect of womanhood continually threatens to steal my joy due to weariness, from worries and overwork. I’ve sat with many Christian women who’ve spoken the same series of concerns to me, we women don’t have a “shut off” {ever}. I’ve heard men can pull out their empty box in their brain on a whim??? I sometimes long for an empty box! I DO NOT have an empty box, my brain and mind is {always} going! What about you? Ladies; Our shoulders aren’t made for such heavy weight.

{Back to everyone} 😊

Somehow it freed me and helped my to realize that it’s okay to have my limits and I’m not expected to carry the weight of everyone and everything around me! I sure get caught in this trap easily!

This isn’t a “get out of jail” free card, we are called to be witnesses and ministers to those around us. Just not everyone and everything! Contrary to what Satan tries to tell us all the time “We don’t have to be responsible for everything!” Only the things and people God specifically calls us to.

Listening to the Holy Spirit and not our internal “people pleasing”’bully! This is the key!

For me, I need to remind myself that even in this season… “That God is our every {need meeter} and I don’t have to fret or worry… or labor or spin!”

Mathew 6:24-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Jesus came so that we can have joy filled lives, not to be continuously frazzled and worried!

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Where’s your boat? What’s does your boat entail? Join me in pondering this thought with me this week!

Blessings,
Crystal