Come to Me

Good Evening to All!

As y'all know by now, I've been getting a lot of my devotional posts lately from a new book I bought called "Hearing from GOD Each Morning" by Joyce Meyer. While we may have some difference in our doctrinal views. I love watching her television broadcasts and reading her books. The way she "puts things out there", I know her messages are from God. I would also like to say that if you are looking for a Bible that is easy to understand. Joyce has a Bible called the "Everyday Life Bible Amplified Version. It is the Amplified version of the Bible, with Joyce's Commentary and study helps. It is an excellent study Bible. I have all kinds of different versions such as the Message Bible, KJV, the New King James, The Living Bible, the New International Version, the Revised Standard Version and Her Amplified Bible. Her's is one of my favorites because of the study helps. They are simple and easy to keep up with and understand, and the Amplified Bible is also easy to understand. It doesn't stray away from the true meaning of God's Word, but in brackets it has a simpler way of wording what was just said.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
(Matthew 11:28 Amp. version)
The King James Version states it this way: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (No there isn't much difference, I just enjoy the way the KJV sounds.

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One of the greatest hindrances to hearing from God is trying to get to Him through works instead of through a personal relationship with Him by being born again and fellowshipping with Him regularly. God will give you the strength and power you need to serve Him in righteousness and holiness. Jesus is not a harsh taskmaster, as we see in the verse for tonight. In this verse, Jesus was saying, " I am good. My system is good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing." You can easily become overburdened trying to do everything you feel is expected of you, but Jesus is saying to you tonight, "I will not load you down with burdens and demand things of you that wear you out. My plan for you is comfortable, gracious, and pleasant."

When God gives us something to do, He always helps us do it. He gives us ability, strength, peace, and joy. When we are doing the will of God, He refreshes us while we work. If you feel overburdened, you may be doing things God has not asked you to do, or you may be trying to do them in your own strength. Ask Him what He wants you to do and not do, and be bold enough to eliminate anything He is not blessing.

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God's Word for You Tonight: Eliminate from you schedule anything that is not bearing good fruit.

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If we aren't careful, we tend to fill our lives with "stuff". I am not necessarily talking about material "stuff" although we do that also. What I am talking about is we fill our days with so many things, such as we help out at our kids school functions, we overload ourselves taking our children to their different sports events, gymnastic classes, music lessons, ballet lessons, we go shopping we even sometimes work on charity fund-raisers, and so on. We concentrate so hard on "doing what we think God wants us to do (good works) that we become exhausted from doing all of these other things. We say we're too tired, or we don't have time to spend on the actual things God really wants us to spend more time on such as going to church, reading His Word, or praying. People seem to forget that God says in HIS WORD to place HIM FIRST, family second, then everything else. If we put Him first, then everything else will fall into place. He will not let you neglect your family. After all, they are His children too. Let me say that yes, we are supposed to do "good works like fund-raisers for charities and feeding the hungry, working in "soup kitchens or other compassionate works for God. What I am trying to say is that don't get in the frame of mind that they take the place of an intimate relationship with God. He still wants us to attend church and fellowship with other Christians, spend time in prayer with Him, and even just carry on a conversation with Him like you would one of your friends. After all He does say that He is a friend who is closer than a brother. Please do not substitute one for the other. He wants us to do both. Do good works, and have a relationship with Him.

The reason I am bringing this up is because doing this "other things" if we aren't careful can become a hindrance to us when it comes to hearing God speak to us. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we can't do these things. What I am saying is if we aren't careful they can become "idols" to us. We will let them overload our mind, our time, and even our wallets. It amazes me how many people I have seen allow their children to be in every sport the school offers, which can run into hundreds of dollars for the uniforms and/or entry fee, or music lesson, dance lessons, gymnastics (I'm talking several or all at once.) I've seen children that had some kind of sport or lesson every day of the week except for Saturday or Sunday. By then the whole family is too worn out, so they spend Sunday "resting up", or if they go to church, they "can't afford to pay tithes". What they seem to have forgotten is that it was God who provided them with the money in the first place. Not only that, but we can't "Outgive God". When we pay tithes, He gives us so much more. If we give God more of our time, He will give us more time for other things as well.

I have been blessed more times than I can count. Not because I tithe so much, (which I don't), but because I am faithful and consistent. I tithe something every time I go to a church service.

God loves faithfulness in every way.

Good night to all and May God Bless!