I am sitting here very early in the morning listening to the rain falling on the skylight above my bed. The soft pitter-patter of the rain lulls me to sleep and then for some reason I am awake again. I shift right and then left trying to find a place that will allow me to fall asleep once more. After about a half hour of tossing and turning I decide to get up and I look at the clock and it says 5:15 a.m. I walk over to the coffee maker and push the button and open my Bible to the page that I have book marked in Romans 6. I say my prayer asking God to give me insight into what I am about to read.
While sitting before God’s word, I find my body relaxing, and my mind which was troubled before is now being calmed, and I feel a peace fall over me. In meditating on what I just read, I realize that God’s word is life to my weary soul. I next pick up my computer and read about the war in Syria, and see slides of the carnage to body and land that war creates. I look at signs made by the war weary, they are asking for our help and pleading to us to assist them in their quest to win this war. In the photos, they seem to look at me and ask, “Why are you not helping me?” This troubles me greatly.
My heart is saddened in how we treat one another, and the apparent futility of war and what harm it does for so many people. I have seen this in the past, that when reason leaves, it is because anger has taken its place, and then what is left is destruction.
I know that when we allow ourselves to be ruled by anything other than Jesus Christ, we become a slave to its bidding. Before war takes place between people, it first is present within our souls. If we choose not to give over to God what is his, (our right to . . .) then we become the servant of what it is that rules our hearts, whether that be anger, vengeance, greed, coveting, lust etc. The list goes on and on when we find that our struggle is fought alone, that is, without God at our side.
Jesus says in his word (John 16:33), “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We realize then that God has already won the victory; all we have to do is let Jesus into our hearts daily, and allow him to deal with the things that trouble us.
In Proverbs 3:25-26 the Bible says, “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” If we then allow God to be apart of our lives, he promises to take care of us, and all our needs that we have each day.
“I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.” (Psalm 3:4-6.) God will protect us and he will help us with all our needs that we have today, even when our circumstances try to tell us differently. God will always find a way. Give your cares to Jesus today; he will help you because he loves you enough that he died for you.
