No Shilly-Shallying

Mark 11:22 "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake' - no shuffling or shilly-shallying - and it's as good as done." (The Message Version)

“This mountain...”

What, dear one, is blocking your path to joy and peace? What larger-than-life situation has you freaking out.  It could be a mountain of bills, a mountain of sadness, a mountain of medical issues, loneliness, fear, rebellious children, a heartless husband…

Jesus never said mountains don’t exist, but He did say that when we embrace God and the way He wants us to live, we can speak to that mountain, and it will move.  This brings up an interesting point.  I was talking to a friend yesterday about this very same verse and she said, “Yenise, the mountains have ears.”

That’s a great way of saying the mountains are equipped to hear whatever we tell them, so let's talk to them the way Christ invites us to.  It's not, “Please move.” Or, “I know you are big, but I need you to move aside now, please.”  Nope! He wants us to be confident, firm and to the point.  Authoritative.  Resolute. No shilly-shallying, which means no hesitation and no stalling.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, No shilly-shallying from me today.  In the name of Jesus I speak to this particular situation (Fill in the blank:_______________): GO JUMP IN THE LAKE! Thank You that “It’s as good as done!” Amen.

Let Him Have It~

Casting part two!

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

I am known for tossing things as opposed to gently handing things over.  I have tossed everything from a fork that Jorge asked for while he sat comfortably on the couch to my own nephew during a spirited game of “hot potato”. 

The problem with tossing stuff is that it can miss the intended target.  No, my nephew was not dropped during the game.  But how many times have we thrown a wadded up ball at the garbage can and missed?  However, when we put something directly on or in the target, it has a better probability of staying put.    

Likewise, Jesus asks us to cast our anxiety ON Him so as to assure He has a firm grip on it.  Let’s be honest: Some of us are about to crumble under the pressure and strain of our problems.  Some days, maybe most days, we wonder how we can take even one more step.  The answer is to cast our anxiety on Jesus.  Let Him have it.  Let Him carry it.  Let your problems become His concern.  He can handle anything. 

These are the lyrics to the song we sang at my high school graduation:

There is no problem too big
God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall
God cannot move it

There is no storm too dark
God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep
He cannot soothe it

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know He will carry you

Before Christ can carry, we must cast – we must release.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We gladly let go of the anxiety we feel and toss it onto You.  We want You to carry it, to figure it out, to resolve the mess, pain, and hurt.  Move the mountains, calm the storms, and soothe our sorrows now. In Jesus’ name, AMEN~